finalize

verb

fi·​nal·​ize ˈfī-nə-ˌlīz 

finalized; finalizing

transitive verb

1

: to put in final or finished form

soon my conclusion will be finalized

—D. D. Eisenhower

2

: to give final approval to

finalizing the papers prepared … by his staff

—Newsweek

finalization

ˌfī-nə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

noun

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.

Synonyms

• complete
• consummate
• finish
• perfect
• polish

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

The divorce was finalized in April 2017, with no evident haggling over dividing their assets. —Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 24 Oct. 2024

Federal government officials and invasive species experts, meanwhile, are finalizing a report that will be delivered to the National Invasive Species Council, which oversees the expansion of pest management efforts nationwide and across several national agencies. —CBS News, 24 Oct. 2024

In 2014, Walgreens finalized buying British druggist Boots for $22 billion in a bid to create the first international drugstore operator. —Phil Wahba, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2024

The couple eventually split in 1998, and Lopez began to date Combs shortly after their divorce was finalized. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

final entry 1 + -ize

First Known Use

1875, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

finalize

verb

fi·​nal·​ize ˈfīn-ᵊl-īz 

finalized; finalizing

: to put in final or finished form