final

UK: /ˈfaɪn^əl/ US: /ˈfaɪnəl/ ,(fīn′l)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

fi•nal /ˈfaɪnəl/   adj. 

1. relating to or coming at the end; last in place, order, or time:
   [before a noun] final meeting of the season.
2. conclusive or decisive;
   unchangeable:
   That's my final offer.
3. being the end or purpose;
   ultimate:
   a final result.

n. [countable]

4. • Often, finals. [plural] the last and decisive game, match, or round in a series:
     Our team made it to the finals.
   • Education the last, usually long, examination in a course of study:
     Do you have a final in history?

fi•nal•i•ty /faɪˈnælɪti, fə-/  n. [uncountable]
fi•nal•ly, adv. See -fin-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

fi•nal  (fīn′l), adj. 

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
   • precluding further controversy on the questions passed upon:
     The judicial determination of the Supreme Court is final.
   • determining all issues presented, so that no further decision upon the merits of the issues is necessary:
     a final judgment or decree.
7. [Phonet.] occurring at the end of a word or syllable, as the (t) sound in bit or bite.

n. 

8. that which is last;
   that which forms an end or termination.
9. Often, finals. 
   • the last and decisive game, match, contest, or round in a series, as in sports.
   • 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.

• Latin fīnālis, equivalent. to fīn(is) end + -ālis -al¹
• 1300–50; 1915–20 for def. 10; Middle English

Synonyms

• 1. See last ¹.
• 3. definite, irrevocable, irreversible, unalterable.

Antonyms

• 1. initial, first.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

final / ˈfaɪn^əl/ 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. at the end of a word
   Compare medial1, initial1
5. another word for perfect9b

noun

1. a terminal or last thing; end
2. a deciding contest between the winners of previous rounds in a competition

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin fīnālis, from fīnis limit, boundary