When something is final, it's the last in a series or the end of a process, with no more changes coming after it. The final episode of a television series wraps up the story. The final exam in June tests everything you learned all year. When a judge makes a final decision in a court case, that decision stands and can't be appealed anymore.

The word carries a sense of completion and permanence. A rough draft isn't final because you'll still revise it. But when you turn in the final copy of your essay, you're done working on it. In sports, the finals are the championship games where teams compete for the ultimate prize after eliminating all other opponents.

Something final often feels weighty or significant precisely because nothing comes after it. A coach might give her team a final pep talk before the big game. A final warning means there won't be another chance. When you make a final decision about which musical instrument to learn, you're committing to that choice.

Parents or teachers sometimes say “that's final!” to mean a decision is settled and won't be discussed anymore. It's their way of indicating that the conversation has reached its conclusion.