finality

noun

fi·​nal·​i·​ty fī-ˈna-lə-tē 

fə-

plural finalities

1

a

: the character or condition of being final, settled, irrevocable, or complete

b

: the condition of being at an ultimate point especially of development or authority

2

: something final

especially : a fundamental fact, action, or belief

Examples of finality in a Sentence

“It won't work,” he said, with an air of finality.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ahead of her final fight against Slovenian Ema Kozin on Saturday, Brækhus has been coming to terms with the pain and finality of her retirement from boxing. —George Ramsay, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025

Cora appreciates the finality of October. —Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Advertisement Yet, these decisions never settled the debate over hate speech with any finality. —Time, 29 Sep. 2025

Speed and finality must improve, with latency shrinking toward sub-second interactions. —Annabelle Huang, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

probably borrowed from French finalité, from final final entry 1 + -ité -ity

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for finality

• banality
• bestiality
• brutality
• carnality
• centrality
• chirality
• duality
• fatality
• formality
• frugality
• legality
• lethality

Kids Definition

finality

noun

fi·​nal·​i·​ty fī-ˈnal-ət-ē 

fə-

plural finalities

1

: the character or state of being final, settled, or complete

2

: something final

Legal Definition

finality

noun

fi·​nal·​i·​ty fī-ˈna-lə-tē, fə- 

1

: the state or condition of being final

2

: the principle that appeals may only be taken from final orders or judgments