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

The next evening, D’Amaro was set to deliver the Experiences keynote address, where he would be joined by creative leaders like Feige, Docter and Lee, as well as talent like Billy Crystal and Ke Huy Quan. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026

Rob Bonta, California’s attorney general, was scheduled to give a keynote address on Wednesday. —Emma Hall, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026

Elyce Arons, founder and chief executive officer of Frances Valentine, will deliver the keynote address to the Class of 2026 at LIM College‘s annual commencement. —Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 22 Jan. 2026

The celebration includes a keynote address by Gerald Jones, associate vice president for student life at Southwestern University. —Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 14 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1863, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for keynote address

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

Kids Definition

keynote address

noun

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