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

Teams will play eight matches at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta this summer, starting with Spain (a tournament favorite) versus Cabo Verde (in their first appearance in a World Cup) on June 15 and ending with a to-be-determined face off semifinal match on July 15. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

The other semifinal teams were another Orlando team, Academy of Central Florida (28-8), and DME Academy (25-10) of Daytona Beach. —Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2026

Noun

Last year, only Arizona and BYU advanced to the regional semifinals. —Jon Wilner, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026

Their goals leveled the score in the second half of European playoff semifinals that Poland and Bosnia-Herzegovina would go on to win late Thursday. —ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026

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