Semifinal
/ˌsɛmiˈfaɪnəl/noun
A round or stage in a competition that determines who advances to the final.
Did you know?Unlike words with ancient occult roots, semifinal is a modern tournament term built from Latin pieces, but it still carries that dramatic ‘halfway to destiny’ energy.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
semi-
“half”
Latin
Latin
finis
“end, boundary, limit”
Early Modern English
English
semi-final
“a match or round before the final”
Modern English
English
semifinal
“the penultimate contest or round in a competition”
Explore more surprising origins