Word
finality
Phoneticsfi·nal·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/faɪˈnæɫəti/
UK/faɪnˈælɪti/
Uncountable noun
Definition
n. when something is finished for good and cannot be changed or undone. You feel it when a decision is truly over.
n. irreversible completion that permits no further change, appeal, or discussion.
Examples
“His voice has a finality that ends the argument.”
“When the judge reads the verdict, the finality in her tone tells everyone the case is truly over.”
“The closing of the old factory carried a quiet finality, as workers collected their tools knowing decades of shared routine would not return.”
Examples
simple
“His voice has a finality that ends the argument.”
contextual
“When the judge reads the verdict, the finality in her tone tells everyone the case is truly over.”
complex
“The closing of the old factory carried a quiet finality, as workers collected their tools knowing decades of shared routine would not return.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “finality” in context.
Verb
01. accept finality
“It took him months to accept the finality of their divorce.”
verb + noun
02. confront finality
“The novel forces readers to confront the finality of death.”
verb + noun
03. convey finality
“The judge's tone conveyed finality; no appeal would be allowed.”
verb + noun
04. declare with finality
“The referee declared with finality that the match was over.”
verb + prep + noun
05. emphasize finality
“The slamming door emphasized the finality of her departure.”
verb + noun
06. finality hits
“The finality hits you when you walk out of the empty house.”
noun + verb
Adjective
07. absolute finality
“The court's ruling gave the dispute an absolute finality that surprised everyone.”
adj + noun
08. chilling finality
“Her voice had a chilling finality that ended all further debate.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. air of finality
“His farewell speech had an unmistakable air of finality.”
noun + prep + noun
10. feeling of finality
“A heavy feeling of finality hung over the farewell party.”
noun + prep + noun
11. accept the finality of death
“After years of grief, she finally accepted the finality of death.”
12. convey a sense of finality
“The last chapter conveys a powerful sense of finality.”
Real-World Examples
“What’s made this month’s fires so staggering is the completeness and finality of much of its destruction," said Ken Bernstein, manager of the city’s Office of Historic Resources.” “Steering a delicate course through the interview process, the lifetime journalist did not ramble but rather came to the end of each answer with a finality precluding further discussion.” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French finalité. equivalent to final + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Antonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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