fi·nal (fī'nəl)
adj.

1. Forming or occurring at the end; last: the final scene of a film.
2. Of or constituting the end result of a succession or process; ultimate: an act with both an immediate and a final purpose.
3. Not to be changed or reconsidered; unalterable: The judge's decision is final. See synonyms at last¹.

n.
Something that comes at or forms the end, especially:

1. The last or one of the last of a series of contests: the finals of a state spelling bee.
2. The last examination of an academic course.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin fīnālis, from fīnis, end.]

finally fi'nal·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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