Finalist: meaning, definitions and examples

The word 'finalist' is derived from the noun 'final,' which comes from the Latin 'finalis,' meaning 'of or belonging to the end.' In this context, 'final' refers to the last round or event in a series of competitions. The '-ist' suffix is often used in English to denote someone who practices or participates in a specific activity. The term 'finalist' began to gain prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as various contests and competitions became more organized, leading to the need for terminology that could adequately describe the participants at the concluding stage of these events. The rise of televised competitions and reality shows in the late 20th century further popularized the term, as audiences became familiar with contestants who reached the final rounds and competed for top honors.

This word's position of #31,992 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

• ...
• 31989 obfuscation
• 31990 extradite
• 31991 outgrew
• 31992 finalist
• 31993 bootleg
• 31994 buckshot
• 31995 hydrophone
• ...