finalist

[ fahyn-l-ist ]

noun

1. a person entitled to participate in the final or decisive contest in a series, as in musical or athletic competition.

finalist

/ ˈfaɪnəlɪst /

noun

1. a contestant who has reached the last and decisive stage of a sports or other competition

Word History and Origins

Origin of finalist¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; final + -ist

Example Sentences

Last year, the National Book Awards lost several sponsors, including subscription service Book of the Month, after 20 finalists took the stage during the ceremony to call for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.

From Los Angeles Times

He is a finalist for the National League rookie of the year and Cy Young awards, which will be announced next week.

From Los Angeles Times

The 28-year-old made history as the first-ever deaf woman to be crowned Miss South Africa in August, following a controversy-hit competition which saw one finalist withdraw after being trolled over her Nigerian heritage.

From BBC

“But for My Little Pony, in particular, this year is extra validating. The beloved toy was a finalist seven times before finally crossing the finish line!”

From Salon

The esteemed chef was a finalist at this year’s James Beard Award in the “Best Chef: Great Lakes” category.

From Salon