final

[fahyn-l] /ˈfaɪn l/
adjective
1.
pertaining to or coming at the end; last in place, order, or time:
the final meeting of the year.
2.
ultimate:
The final goal is world peace.
3.
conclusive or decisive:
a final decision.
4.
constituting the end or purpose:
a final result.
5.
pertaining to or expressing the end or purpose:
a final clause.
6.
Law.
  1. precluding further controversy on the questions passed upon:
    The judicial determination of the Supreme Court is final.
  2. determining all issues presented, so that no further decision upon the merits of the issues is necessary:
    a final judgment or decree.
7.
Phonetics. occurring at the end of a word or syllable, as the (t) sound in bit or bite.
noun
8.
that which is last; that which forms an end or termination.
9.
Often, finals.
  1. the last and decisive game, match, contest, or round in a series, as in sports.
  2. the last, usually comprehensive, examination in a course of study.
10.
the last edition of a newspaper published on any day.
11.
Music. the tonic note of a church mode.
Origin
1300-50; 1915-20 for def 10; Middle English < Latin fīnālis, equivalent to fīn(is) end + -ālis -al1
Related forms
pseudofinal, adjective
pseudofinally, adverb
quasi-final, adjective
Synonyms
1. See last1 . 3. definite, irrevocable, irreversible, unalterable.
Antonyms
1. initial, first.
Examples from the web for final
  • The final phase involved leasing an isolated farmhouse.
  • First-generation drugs are now in the final phase of human testing.
  • We're in the final stretch of installing all the wiring.
  • Several artists around the world have found their muse in the final menus of doomed convicts.
  • Background checks will be conducted on the final candidates.
  • The final point concerns outside advice: the column warns against taking it too seriously.
  • Watch as brilliantly colored salmon brave bears and other hazards to make their final journey.
  • One final tip: make sure your dining companions are also menudo fans.
  • While in no way knocking his former boss, he gave himself full credit for the final victory.
  • Those lines and colors, so clear and confident on the final product, reflect a host of difficult choices and compromises.
British Dictionary definitions for final

final

/ˈfaɪnəl/
adjective
1.
of or occurring at the end; concluding; ultimate; last
2.
having no possibility for further discussion, action, or change; conclusive; decisive: a final decree of judgment
3.
relating to or constituting an end or purpose: a final clause may be introduced by ``in order to''
4.
(phonetics) at the end of a word: ``cat'' has a final ``t'' Compare medial (sense 1), initial (sense 1)
5.
(music) another word for perfect (sense 9b)
noun
6.
a terminal or last thing; end
7.
a deciding contest between the winners of previous rounds in a competition
8.
(music) the tonic note of a church mode
See also finals
Word Origin
C14: from Latin fīnālis, from fīnis limit, boundary
Word Origin and History for final
adj.

early 14c., from Old French final and directly from Latin finalis "of or pertaining to an end, concluding, final," from finis "end" (see finish). As a noun, late 14c., "that which comes last;" meaning "final contest" in a sporting sense is from 1880. As a shortening of final examination, from 1880.

Idioms and Phrases with final

final

see: in the final analysis