noun
semifinals
Borrowed from English 'semifinal'. Used in sports and competitions to refer to the round just before the final.
彼はセミファイナルで敗れた。
He lost in the semifinals.
セミファイナルに進出するチームが決まった。
The teams advancing to the semifinals have been decided.
準決勝 is the native Japanese equivalent of セミファイナル, used in the same contexts but slightly more formal or traditional.
Loanword from English 'semifinal'.