finalize
verb
fi·nal·ize
ˈfī-nə-ˌlīz 
finalized; finalizing
1
: to put in final or finished form
soon my conclusion will be finalized—
D. D. Eisenhower
D. D. Eisenhower2
: to give final approval to
finalizing the papers prepared … by his staff—Newsweek
Newsweek
Usage of Finalize
Finalize has been frequently castigated as an unnecessary neologism or as U.S. government gobbledygook. It appears to have first gained currency in Australia (where it has been acceptable all along) in the early 1920s. The U.S. Navy picked it up in the late 20s, and from there it came into widespread use. It is a standard formation (see -ize). Currently, it is most frequently used in government and business dealings; it usually is not found in belles-lettres.
Examples of finalize in a Sentence
They are finalizing their divorce this week.
We bought our tickets and finalized our vacation plans.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ratcliffe finalized a purchase of Manchester United shares last year that gave him control of sporting operations.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 13 Mar. 2025
Listen to this article Indian Prairie School District 204 has finalized its school calendar for the 2026-27 school year, after receiving board approval on Monday.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
The two welcomed their four children — North, 11, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 5 — before finalizing their divorce in 2022.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
There is even a custom scent piped in (though this element wasn’t finalized until after the opening).
—Chris Erik Thomas, ARTnews.com, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finalize
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 13 Mar. 2025
Listen to this article Indian Prairie School District 204 has finalized its school calendar for the 2026-27 school year, after receiving board approval on Monday.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2025
The two welcomed their four children — North, 11, Saint, 9, Chicago, 7, and Psalm, 5 — before finalizing their divorce in 2022.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025
There is even a custom scent piped in (though this element wasn’t finalized until after the opening).
—Chris Erik Thomas, ARTnews.com, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finalize
Cite this Entry
“Finalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finalize. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share