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
Rocio Fabbro, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
According to Ramsey County, preliminary design for the project took place from fall 2023 to 2024, and construction plans will be finalized in 2025.
—Maddie Robinson, Twin Cities, 13 Nov. 2024
Aiming to cut methane emissions from the United States, President Joe Biden’s administration on Tuesday finalized a methane fee for big oil and gas producers.
—Reuters, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
The lone constitutional amendment question on Tuesday's ballot had not been finalized by the end of the night, with the latest results showing 53% of voters voting to approve the measure that would change the governor's line of succession and 46% voting against.
—Caroline Beck, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024
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 1 Dec. 2024.
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