semifinal

1 of 2

adjective

semi·​fi·​nal ˌse-mē-ˈfī-nᵊl 

ˌse-ˌmī-,

-mi-

1

: being next to the last in an elimination tournament

2

: of or participating in a semifinal

semifinal

2 of 2

noun

semi·​fi·​nal ˈse-mē-ˌfī-nᵊl 

ˈse-ˌmī-,

-mi-

1

: a semifinal match

2

: a semifinal round

semifinalist

ˌse-mē-ˈfī-nᵊl-ist 

ˌse-ˌmī-

-mi-

noun

Examples of semifinal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

But the semifinal victory marks her best result since becoming a mom. —Manasi Pathak, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025

Argentina's defender #06 Aldana Cometti and Colombia's forward #09 Mayra Ramirez fight for the ball during the Women's Copa America 2025 semifinal football match between Argentina and Colombia at the Rodrigo Paz Delgado Stadium in Quito on July 28, 2025. —Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Aug. 2025

Noun

The big-serving left-hander from Atlanta reached the semifinals of the Australian Open this year, and of the U.S. Open in 2023. —Adam Zagoria, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025

Williams owns a 12-9 record at the Cincinnati Open, having reached the semifinals in 2012 and quarterfinals in 2019. —Kaycee Sloan, The Enquirer, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1895, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for semifinal

• anticlinal
• entorhinal
• isoclinal
• polyvinyl
• transvaginal
• affinal
• anginal
• synclinal
• vaginal
• final
• pinal
• spinal

Kids Definition

semifinal

1 of 2 adjective

semi·​fi·​nal ˌsem-i-ˈfīn-ᵊl 

1

: coming before the final round in a tournament

2

: of or taking part in a semifinal

semifinal

2 of 2 noun

semi·​fi·​nal ˈsem-i-ˌfīn-ᵊl 

: a semifinal match or game

semifinalist

ˌsem-i-ˈfīn-ᵊl-əst 

noun