Semifinalist: meaning, definitions and examples

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semifinalist

 

[ ˌsɛməˈfaɪnəlɪst ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

sports competition

A semifinalist is a competitor who has reached the semifinals of a tournament or competition, which is one round before the final. This stage typically includes the last four or eight contestants in knockout-style events. Semifinalists are often two matches away from winning the championship.

Synonyms

competitor, contender, participant

Examples of usage

  • The semifinalist team will compete for a spot in the finals next week.
  • She was a semifinalist in the national spelling bee last year.
  • Only four semifinalists remain in the reality singing competition.

Translations

Translations of the word "semifinalist" in other languages:

🇵🇹 semifinalista

🇮🇳 सेमीफाइनलिस्ट

🇩🇪 Halbfinalist

🇮🇩 semifinalis

🇺🇦 півфіналіст

🇵🇱 półfinalista

🇯🇵 準決勝進出者

🇫🇷 demi-finaliste

🇪🇸 semifinalista

🇹🇷 yarı finalist

🇰🇷 준결승 진출자

🇸🇦 نصف النهائي

🇨🇿 půlfinalista

🇸🇰 pôlfinalista

🇨🇳 半决赛选手

🇸🇮 polfinalist

🇮🇸 fimmtudagskeppandi

🇰🇿 жартылай финалист

🇬🇪 ნახევარფინალისტი

🇦🇿 yarıfinalist

🇲🇽 semifinalista

Etymology

The term 'semifinalist' is derived from the word 'semifinal,' which first appeared in English in the late 19th century. The prefix 'semi-' comes from Latin, meaning 'half' or 'partial,' indicating that this round is halfway to the final. The root 'final' is taken from the Latin 'finalis,' meaning 'of or pertaining to an end or conclusion.' The combination of these elements reflects the meaning of a semifinalist as a contender who is not yet in the final competition but is close to winning. Over the years, the usage of the word has expanded to several contexts beyond sports, including academic competitions and talent shows, indicating its versatile application in various competitive environments.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #42,359, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.