finalist

F4I1N1A1L1I1S1T1

noun

An adherent of finalism; someone who believes that a given process or situation is in its final state, with no further change possible.

Less commonFirst used 19th c.Scrabble 11
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Meanings

nounfinalist (plural finalists)

plural finalists

  1. An adherent of finalism; someone who believes that a given process or situation is in its final state, with no further change possible.First known use 19th c.
  2. Someone who believes that natural processes (especially evolution) are tending towards some specific final state; a teleologist.First known use 19th c.
  3. Somebody or something that appears in the final of a competition.First known use 19th c.

    Soto was a finalist once before in right field, in 2022, when he lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts.

    2024 October 15, Noah Furtado, “Familiar names, a few surprises headline MLB Gold Glove Award finalists”, in The New York Times
    1 more example

    If the disqualifications leave a vacancy for the full complement of finalists, swim-offs shall be continued among the disqualified swimmers until a full complement of finalists is assured.

    1973, Aquatics Guide, with Official Rules and Swimming and Diving Standards
  4. A university student taking their final examinations, or in the year of study when these are taken.First known use 20th c.

Origin

From final + -ist.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan finalista
  • finalistaparticipant in final
Czech finalista, finalistka
  • finalistaparticipant in final
  • finalistkaparticipant in final
Dutch finalist, finaliste
  • finalistparticipant in final
  • finalisteparticipant in final
Finnish finalisti, loppuottelija
  • finalistiparticipant in final
  • loppuottelijaparticipant in final
French finaliste
  • finalisteparticipant in final
German Finalist, Finalistin
  • Finalistparticipant in final
  • Finalistinparticipant in final
Hebrew פַיְנָלִיסְט
  • פַיְנָלִיסְט (faynelíst)participant in final
Hungarian döntős
  • döntősparticipant in final
Irish iomaitheoir ceannchluiche
  • iomaitheoir ceannchluicheparticipant in final
Italian finalista
  • finalistaparticipant in final
Japanese 決勝進出者
  • 決勝進出者 (kesshō shinshutsusha)participant in final
Korean 결승 진출자
  • 결승 진출자 (gyeolseung jinchulja)participant in final
Persian فینالیست
  • فینالیست (finâlist)participant in final
Portuguese finalista
  • finalistaparticipant in final
Romanian finalist
  • finalistparticipant in final
Spanish finalista
  • finalistaparticipant in final
Swedish finalist
  • finalistparticipant in final
Cite this entry
APA

finalist. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/finalist

MLA

“finalist.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/finalist. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “finalist,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/finalist.

Source: finalist on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.