finalist

noun

fi·​nal·​ist ˈfī-nə-list How to pronounce finalist (audio)
Synonyms of finalistnext
: 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.
The award announcement was made on October 22 at the Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris, where an exhibition of work by this year’s winners and finalists is on view through February 7, 2027. — News Desk, Artforum, 23 Oct. 2026 Those candidates are narrowed down to five finalists who get a chance to pitch their film in front of a packed audience and a panel of judges at the Tribeca Festival. — Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 23 Oct. 2026 As The Hollywood Reporter detailed Thursday, Jack Lowden, Callum Turner and Jack O’Connell are three finalists expected to test for the highly coveted role of 007. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2026 Around 84% of analysts who participated brought AI into their pitches, including all of the finalists. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for finalist

Word History

Etymology

final entry 1 + -ist entry 1

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of finalist was in 1898

Browse Nearby Words

finalism
finalist
finality
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Finalist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finalist. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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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

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