finalize
verb
D. D. EisenhowerNewsweek
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
Andrew King, Axios, 27 Feb. 2025
Typically, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee meets after the WHO meeting to finalize recommendations.
—Youri Benadjaoud, ABC News, 27 Feb. 2025
In a virtual news conference on Monday, Newsom announced that cities and counties that do not meet certain benchmarks — such as closing more encampments and finalizing plans to build more housing — could lose out on their share of hundreds of millions of dollars in future state homelessness grants.
—Ethan Varian, The Mercury News, 26 Feb. 2025
On the plus side, round-trip domestic airfare is under $300 on average, and there are still some great deals out there for those who haven't finalized their plans.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for finalize
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Cite this Entry
“Finalize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/finalize. Accessed 2 Mar. 2025.
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