finalize

verb fi·nal·ize \ ˈfī-nə-ˌlīz \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of finalize

finalized; finalizing

transitive verb

1 : to put in final or finished form

soon my conclusion will be finalized
—D. D. Eisenhower

2 : to give final approval to

finalizing the papers prepared … by his staff
—Newsweek

—

finalization

play \ˌfī-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

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See finalize defined for kids

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 of finalize from the Web

North Korea freed the prisoners, all Americans of Korean descent, even as the two countries finalized details for a meeting between their leaders.

— peter baker, BostonGlobe.com, "Releasing three, North Koreans signal openness ahead of summit," 10 May 2018
While who will be the Republican nominee for the 7th District seat is still being finalized, other seats on the County Council appeared to have clear winners.

— craig lyons, Post-Tribune, "GOP Lake councilman down by 2 votes considers recount," 9 May 2018
The church plans to remain a partner of the Boy Scouts for boys ages 8 to 13 until the end of next year, when the transition to the new youth program will be finalized.

— samantha schmidt, Washington Post, "Mormon Church breaks all ties with Boy Scouts, ending 100-year relationship," 9 May 2018
North Korea freed the prisoners, all Americans of Korean descent, even as the two countries finalized details for a meeting between their leaders.

— New York Times, "Releasing 3 Americans, North Koreans Signal Openness to Washington," 9 May 2018
If the science transparency rule is finalized first, Paster said, EPA and HUD might rely on completely different data to regulate the same kind of lead exposure.

— ariel wittenberg, Science | AAAS, "EPA’s ‘secret science’ rule could undermine agency’s ‘war on lead’," 8 May 2018
The city of Houston and Houston Metro have been working on a plan to adjust the intersection, although those plans aren’t finalized, officials with both groups said.

— samantha ketterer, Houston Chronicle, "Husband of wife killed in Rice-area bicycle accident files suit against trucking company," 8 May 2018
Another mother, who just finalized the adoption of her twelfth child last month, said the night was amazing for her family.

— caitlin o'kane, CBS News, "Taylor Swift invites 2,000 foster and adopted kids to see her concert before tour kicks off," 7 May 2018
The agencies are taking public comments on the proposals and could finalize them later this year.

— ryan tracy, WSJ, "A Simple Rule Has Constrained Bankers’ Freedom. Now It Is Getting ‘Retooled’," 7 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'finalize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.