noun
-
the condition or quality of being final or settled; conclusiveness
the finality of death
-
a final or conclusive act
-
metaphysics the doctrine of the efficacy of final causes Compare teleology
Etymology
Origin of finality
Explanation
Finality is the absolute, definite end. People often speak of the finality of death — nothing comes after it and nothing that came before it can be changed. If someone speaks with absolute finality, he is not going to change his mind. The sound of a judge's gavel slamming down gives a sense of finality to his or her judgment. Because of its association with death and closure, finality often carries a somber undertone. It can also be used in conjunction with the end of a sports season. But even the finality of the seventh game of a classic World Series is usually forgotten by the time spring training rolls around.
Vocabulary lists containing finality
The Haunting of Hill House
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Bunnicula
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
X: A Novel
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals held that it does not apply retroactively, preserving the finality of countless convictions.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026
"I have no intention of leaving the board until the investigation is well and truly over, with transparency and finality," Powell told a press briefing on Wednesday.
From Barron's • Mar. 18, 2026
I went into this season wanting to write it with a sense of finality.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026
Beneath the doctrinal sparring lies a familiar institutional fear characterized by destabilizing final judgments, opening procedural floodgates, and unraveling the architecture of criminal finality.
From Slate • Jan. 8, 2026
Once Dad got out, Babou climbed in next to Mom and slid the door shut with the finality of a guillotine.
From "Darius the Great Is Not Okay" by Adib Khorram
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
