Semifinalists

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Individuals or teams that reach the stage prior to the finals in a competitive event, often competing for a chance at championship status
2. Contestants who have successfully advanced to the penultimate round of a tournament and are vying for a final place
3. Participants who have qualified for the semifinals, where they compete for a position in the concluding match or event

Etymology: "Semifinalists" is the plural of "semifinalist," a word built from two parts. The first, "semi-," comes from Latin "semi," meaning "half," and the second is "finalist," someone who reaches the final round of a contest. Put together, the word names someone who has reached the round just before the final, the half-way point of a tournament's climax. The sequence matters here. A "finalist" is the one who makes it to the last match, so "semifinalist" was formed by placing a half-step in front of that idea. The "-ist" ending, which marks a person who takes part in or belongs to something, was attached to "semifinal" to name those competitors who survive into the penultimate stage.

Synonyms: contenders, competitors, participants, players, challengers

Antonyms: losers, eliminated contestants, non-qualifiers, dropouts, outsiders