semifinal

American  

[sem-ee-fahyn-l, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈfaɪn l, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. of or relating to the round preceding the final one in a tournament from which losers are eliminated.

2. (in boxing) of or relating to the second most important bout on a card, usually immediately preceding the main bout.

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noun

• semifinals
  plural

1. a semifinal contest or round.

2. (in boxing) the second most important bout on a card.

semifinal British  

/ ˌsɛmɪˈfaɪnəl /

noun

1. 1. the round before the final in a competition

   2. ( as modifier )

      the semifinal draw

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• semifinals
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of semifinal

First recorded in 1880–85; semi- + final

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Explanation

In sports, a semifinal is the next-to the last game (or series of games) in a big tournament. In a semifinal, four teams or players compete against each other for a spot in the final round. Professional sports like hockey, soccer, and basketball — as well as competitive activities including poker and debate — have a series of elimination rounds before a winner is declared. The very last of those playoff games is the semifinal, a word that was coined in the 1860s from the Latin semi, "half," and final, whose Latin root means "end." The round before the semifinal, in which eight teams play, is called a quarterfinal.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

semifinal semifinals

Yastremska - who in 2024 reached the semifinal stage of the Australian Open - is currently 113th in the women's world singles rankings.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

With a historic All-American semifinal Friday night, a breakthrough may be close.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

The company provided Reggie Jean-Brice with what it called a “complimentary upgrade” after his $12,500 field-level tickets for a World Cup semifinal match between France and Spain weren’t available.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

Reaching a semifinal is coming within a hair’s breadth of glory, because after a World Cup final, there’s nothing left,” Barton said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Almost in spite of their terrible mascot name, our section semifinal opponents—the Castleberry Crabs—are good.

From "Fast Pitch" by Nic Stone

He had pressed beyond the semifinals, finished a match after 3:30 a.m., and knocked off tournament favorite Carlos Alcaraz in the process.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 13, 2026

That’s how she crushed Jessica Pegula in straight sets in the semifinals.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 2026

Hedricks had 30 hits, 23 RBIs and 20 runs with 26 putouts in 26 chances last season as Dos Pueblos advanced to the Division 3 semifinals.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 8, 2026

Monfils and Elina Svitolina, the No. 9 women’s singles player in the world, won two matches on Tuesday to advance to the semifinals of the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

To advance from qualifying rounds to quarterfinals, semifinals to the finals, you have to win each bout.

From "Black Brother, Black Brother" by Jewell Parker Rhodes

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