- an examination administered at the end of an academic term

- the final match between the winners of all previous matches in an elimination tournament

- not to be altered or undone
"the judge''s decision is final"
"the arbiter will have the last say"

- occurring at or forming an end or termination
"his concluding words came as a surprise"
"the final chapter"
"the last days of the dinosaurs"
"terminal leave"

- conclusive in a process or progression
"the final answer"
"a last resort"
"the net result"

1. Pertaining to the end or conclusion; last; terminating; ultimate; as, the final day of a school term.

"Yet despair not of his final pardon." -- Milton.

2. Conclusive; decisive; as, a final judgment; the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue.

3. Respecting an end or object to be gained; respecting the purpose or ultimate end in view.

Final cause
See under Cause.

Syn. -- Final, Conclusive, Ultimate. Final is now appropriated to that which brings with it an end; as, a final adjustment; the final judgment, etc. Conclusive implies the closing of all discussion, negotiation, etc.; as, a conclusive argument or fact; a conclusive arrangement. In using ultimate, we have always reference to something earlier or proceeding; as when we say, a temporary reverse may lead to an ultimate triumph. The statements which a man finally makes at the close of a negotiation are usually conclusive as to his ultimate intentions and designs.