keynote address

noun

: an address designed to present the issues of primary interest to an assembly (such as a political convention) and often to arouse unity and enthusiasm

called also keynote speech

Examples of keynote address in a Sentence

Many of the convention guests left after the keynote address.

Recent Examples on the Web

To this day a street corner at the site of that famous hotel is named for David Ben-Gurion who delivered the keynote address. — Herbert Block, New York Daily News, 20 Sep. 2026

Obama delivered seven Phoenix keynote addresses during his presidency. — Jay Stahl, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026

Law & Order alum Angie Harmon is set to deliver the keynote address at MIPCOM Cannes’ annual Women in Global Entertainment Power Lunch, co-hosted by A+E Networks in partnership with The Hollywood Reporter. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

The comments came one day after Trump gave the keynote address at the GOP’s midterm convention. — Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for keynote address

• icbms
• abbess
• abscess
• access
• assess
• caress
• confess
• depress
• digress
• distress
• egress
• excess

Kids Definition

keynote address

noun

: the main speech given at a gathering (as a political convention)