finalist

noun

fi·​nal·​ist ˈfī-nə-list How to pronounce finalist (audio)
: a contestant in a competition finals

Examples of finalist in a Sentence

They interviewed all of the finalists before making a decision. a finalist in the tennis tournament
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His novel Where the Dead Sit Talking was a finalist for the 2018 National Book Award for Fiction. Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025 An exhibition of work by Xie Lei and this year’s finalists curated by Julia Garimorth and Jean-Pierre Criqui is on view at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, through February 22, 2026. News Desk, Artforum, 27 Oct. 2025 Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, Bessent said the finalists are current Fed Governors Christopher Waller and Michelle Bowman, National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, former Fed Governor Kevin Warsh, and BlackRock executive Rick Rieder, according to several media outlets. Jeff Cox, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025 See the full list of finalists here. Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for finalist

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of finalist was in 1898

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Finalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finalist. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

finalist

noun
fi·​nal·​ist ˈfīn-ᵊl-əst How to pronounce finalist (audio)
: a contestant in the finals of a competition

More from Merriam-Webster on finalist

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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