Final is primarily an adjective meaning "coming at the end," "last in place, time, or order": "This is the final event on the program." "The decision of the Supreme Court is final." As a plural noun, finals refers to a decisive examination or concluding series of events: "He attended the finals of the club tennis tournament." Finale, used only as a noun, means the concluding part of any performance or set of proceedings: "As the finale of her program, she sang an aria of her own composition."
Dictionary of problem words and expressions. Harry Shaw. 1975.