Final vs. Latest

(North America) A final examination; a test or examination given at the end of a term or class; the test that concludes a class.

(sports) The last round, game or match in a contest, after which the winner is determined.

A contest that narrows a field of contestants finalists to ranked positions, usually in numbered places (1st place/prize, 2nd place/prize, etc.) or a winner and numbered runners-up (1st runner-up, etc.).

(phonology) The final part of a syllable, the combination of medial and rime in phonetics and phonology.

(music) The tonic or keynote of a Gregorian mode, and hence the final note of any conventional melody played in that mode.

Last; ultimate.

Example: ‘final solution;’; ‘the final day of a school term’;

Conclusive; decisive.

Example: ‘a final judgment;’; ‘the battle of Waterloo brought the contest to a final issue’;

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

(grammar) Expressing purpose; as in the term final clause.

(linguistics) Word-final, occurring at the end of a word.

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

Example: ‘Yet despair not of his final pardon.’;

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

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

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

an examination administered at the end of an academic term

occurring at or forming an end or termination;

Example: ‘his concluding words came as a surprise’; ‘the final chapter’; ‘the last days of the dinosaurs’; ‘terminal leave’;

conclusive in a process or progression;

Example: ‘the final answer’; ‘a last resort’; ‘the net result’;

not to be altered or undone;

Example: ‘the judge's decision is final’; ‘the arbiter will have the last say’;

coming at the end of a series

Example: ‘the final version of the report was presented’;

reached or designed to be reached as the outcome of a process or a series of actions and events

Example: ‘the final cost will easily run into six figures’;

allowing no further doubt or dispute

Example: ‘the decision of the judging panel is final’;

the last game in a sports tournament or other competition, which will decide the winner of the tournament.

a series of games constituting the final stage of a competition

Example: ‘the World Cup finals’;

a series of examinations at the end of a degree course

Example: ‘she was doing her history finals’;

an examination at the end of a term, school year, or particular class.

the principal note in a mode.

the final approach of an aircraft to the runway it will be landing on

Example: ‘the plane piloted by Richards was on finals’;

Last, final.

Most recent.

Example: ‘Here is the latest news on the accident.’;

At the latest.

Example: ‘Complete the XYZ task latest by today 5:00PM.’;

The most recent thing, particularly information or news.

Example: ‘Have you heard the latest?’; ‘What's the latest on the demonstrations in New York?’; ‘Have you met Jane's latest? I hear he's a hunk.’;

up to the immediate present; most recent or most up-to-date;

Example: ‘the news is up-to-the-minute’; ‘the very latest scientific discoveries’;

in accord with the most fashionable ideas or style;

Example: ‘wears only the latest style’; ‘the last thing in swimwear’; ‘knows the newest dances’; ‘cutting-edge technology’; ‘a with-it boutique’;