finite

[ fahy-nahyt ]

adjective

1. having bounds or limits; not infinite; measurable.

   Synonyms: restricted, limited, bounded

2. Mathematics.
   1. (of a set of elements) capable of being completely counted.
   2. not infinite or infinitesimal.
   3. not zero.
3. subject to limitations or conditions, as of space, time, circumstances, or the laws of nature:

   our finite existence on earth.

noun

1. something that is finite.

finite

/ ˈfaɪnaɪt /

adjective

1. bounded in magnitude or spatial or temporal extent

   a finite difference

2. See infinite, denumerable
   maths logic having a number of elements that is a natural number; able to be counted using the natural numbers less than some natural number Compare denumerable infinite
3. 1. limited or restricted in nature

      human existence is finite

   2. ( as noun )

      the finite

4. denoting any form or occurrence of a verb inflected for grammatical features such as person, number, and tense

finite

/ fī′nīt′ /

1. Relating to a set that cannot be put into a one-to-one correspondence with any proper subset of its own members.
2. Relating to or being a numerical quantity describing the size of such a set.
3. Being a member of the set of real or complex numbers.
4. Being a quantity that is non-zero and not infinite.

Derived Forms

• ˈfinitely, adverb
• ˈfiniteness, noun

Other Words From

• finite·ly adverb
• finite·ness noun
• non·finite adjective noun
• non·finite·ly adverb
• non·finite·ness noun
• super·finite adjective
• super·finite·ly adverb
• super·finite·ness noun
• un·finite adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of finite¹

1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin fīnītus, past participle of fīnīre to stop, limit. See fine ¹, -ite ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of finite¹

C15: from Latin fīnītus limited, from fīnīre to limit, end

Example Sentences

US vetting requirements, capacity limitations at refugee resettlement agencies, and a finite number of slots available under the current refugee admissions cap could all contribute to delays in bringing them to American soil.

From Vox

Giving students early access to Pell meant drawing down finite dollars, as the grants can only be used for 12 semesters.

From Washington Post

These so-called infinite-dimensional matrices have a very different algebra from finite-dimensional ones.

From Nautilus

As you might have expected, f was less than 1, meaning the chain had a finite length.

From FiveThirtyEight

Until the 1960s, scientists believed that the number of neurons and synaptic connections in the human brain were finite and that, once damaged, these brain cells could not be replaced.

From Popular-Science

Many of the fuels we use to generate electricity —natural gas, oil, coal—are abundant yet finite.

From The Daily Beast

“It is an outrage that DEA is using finite taxpayer dollars to impound legal industrial hemp seeds,” he said.

From The Daily Beast

The reservoir of settlement-related projects available for promotion is finite.

From The Daily Beast

And they're wise to pursue this course, because the most finite resource in this discussion is land.

From The Daily Beast

For all practical purposes, the world's supply of oil is not finite.

From The Daily Beast

To imitate finite excellence, is to aspire at excellence, even though but in part.

From Project Gutenberg

To follow these would be delightful and honouring; but would be to follow what is merely a copy, and only finite.

From Project Gutenberg

Its effects on creatures being finite, what is finite might these in some measure point out.

From Project Gutenberg

A spirit has no body; an infinite being is a being which is not finite; a perfect being is a being which is not imperfect.

From Project Gutenberg

What good to me is the favor of a being who, able to bestow upon me infinite good, does not even give me a finite one?

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• definite
• fixed
• limited
• restricted