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Glite Dictionary
semifinalist

semifinalist

5 3.3
A person or team that reaches the round before the final in a competition
  • noun
  • /ˌsɛmɪˈfaɪnəlɪst/
: semifinalista
  • Right now, though, let's introduce our eight semifinalists.

Examples

  • Semifinalists will be chosen on the basis of 75 percent musical achievement and 25 percent academic achievement.

    Academic text (2004)

  • Around early June, they announced the 12 semifinalists hour by hour on Facebook.

    Blog text (8)

  • Each of these semifinalists have another chance.

    Over the Top (1987)

  • 50 semifinalists, and I won.

    The Pawnbroker (1965)

  • D.J. Williams was a semifinalist for the award at Miami.

    Blog text (12)

  • The team was also a USYSA Region II semifinalist.

    Blog text (27)

  • Semifinalists from 77 countries have been selected and sent here this evening.

    Sweet Movie (1974)

  • Jim is a National AP Scholar, National Merit Semifinalist, and national winner of the EnergySolutions Scholarship.

    Blog text (20)

  • 323 students were named semifinalists and 93 were named regional finalists, representing 25 states.

    Blog text (20)

  • The judges announced the three semifinalists who will compete for the championship next week.

Surface Forms

semifinalist singular
semifinalists plural

Morphology

semifinalist = semifinal (transparent) = semi + final + ist

The word is formed by adding '-ist' to 'semifinal' to mean a person or team associated with that round.

Etymology

Semifinalist breaks into semi- 'half', final 'last game', and -ist 'person', so a semifinalist is someone who reaches the round just 'before' the final match.