finalize
verb
fi·nal·ize
ˈfī-nə-ˌlīz 
finalized; finalizing
1
: to put in final or finished form
soon my conclusion will be finalized—
D. D. Eisenhower
D. D. Eisenhower2
: to give final approval to
finalizing the papers prepared … by his staff—Newsweek
Newsweek
Usage of Finalize
Finalize has been frequently castigated as an unnecessary neologism or as U.S. government gobbledygook. It appears to have first gained currency in Australia (where it has been acceptable all along) in the early 1920s. The U.S. Navy picked it up in the late 20s, and from there it came into widespread use. It is a standard formation (see -ize). Currently, it is most frequently used in government and business dealings; it usually is not found in belles-lettres.
Examples of finalize in a Sentence
They are finalizing their divorce this week.
We bought our tickets and finalized our vacation plans.
Recent Examples on the Web
Of course, these are only proposals; nothing will be finalized until a deal is signed.
—Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The universities also issued a press release this week and said the structure of the merger hasn’t been finalized but will be over the next few months.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
The president will speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday to finalize the deal, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Global sent a letter to MassDOT late last week urging them to hold off on finalizing the contract over what was apparently shown in the texts.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finalize
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Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
The universities also issued a press release this week and said the structure of the merger hasn’t been finalized but will be over the next few months.
—Saleen Martin, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025
The president will speak with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Friday to finalize the deal, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said.
—Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 16 Sep. 2025
Global sent a letter to MassDOT late last week urging them to hold off on finalizing the contract over what was apparently shown in the texts.
—Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finalize
Cite this Entry
“Finalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finalize. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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