valedictory

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adjective val·e·dic·to·ry \ˌva-lə-ˈdik-t(ə-)rē\

Definition of valedictory

: of or relating to a valediction : expressing or containing a farewell

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Examples of valedictory in a Sentence

a valedictory address given by the college president upon his retirement

Did You Know?

Valedictory addresses delivered by earnest young valedictorians at high school and college graduations are as much a sign of spring in the United States as baseball games and cookouts. Though we don't know where the first valedictory address was given, we do know that the word was an institution at some colleges in the U.S. by the mid-1700s. English speakers and writers have also used "valedictory" in non-academic settings since the mid-1600s. Since a valedictory speech is given at the end of an academic career, it is perfectly in keeping with the meaning of its Latin ancestor, valedicere, which means "to say farewell."

Origin and Etymology of valedictory

borrowed from New Latin valedictōrius, from Latin valedic-, alternate stem of vale dīcere, valedīcere “to say goodbye” + -tōrius, adjective suffix (originally derivatives of agent nouns ending in -tōr-, -tor) — more at valediction

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First Known Use: 1651

See Words from the same year

valedictory

noun val·e·dic·to·ry

Definition of valedictory

plural

valedictories

1 : an address or statement of farewell or leave-taking
2 : valediction 1

See valedictory defined for English-language learners

Examples of valedictory in a Sentence

He received a very warm valedictory for his long career.

Recent Examples of valedictory from the Web

But that was before the young man gave an affecting valedictory, full of wisdom beyond his years.

— dan rodricks, baltimoresun.com, "An inspiring valedictory we almost missed", 4 July 2017
Here’s why … First, Justice Kennedy generally made forward-looking rather than valedictory comments …

— james hohmann, Washington Post, "The Daily 202: Pragmatic Koch network treads carefully around Trump, plays inside game to advance agenda", 26 June 2017
Surprisingly, this marks the maestro's first-ever recording of Bruckner's uncompleted valedictory symphony.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "For CSO season finale, Riccardo Muti offers an Italian opera fest fit for a king", 23 June 2017
In her valedictory address, the young woman, Biiftu Duresso, credited her success to her parents' hard work and sacrifice.

— justin murphy, USA TODAY, "Refugee janitor's daughter is valedictorian — again", 22 June 2017
Wyoming Area Secondary Center’s high school valedictorian and class president, Peter Butera, did not mince words during his valedictory speech at his graduation ceremony June 16.

— susannah hutcheson, USA TODAY College, "Read the speech that got a high school valedictorian pulled from the stage", 21 June 2017
Surprisingly, this is Muti's first recording of Bruckner's unfinished valedictory.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Cellist Yo-Yo Ma sounds chord of hope, community on South Side", 13 June 2017
Taormina, Italy (CNN)Swinging over the green Ionian sea Saturday, his first foreign trip behind him, President Donald Trump was in a valedictory mood.

— kevin liptak and jeff zeleny, CNN, "Trump, feted and chided abroad, returns to uncertainty at home", 28 May 2017
Elman, who founded the company in 1986 in a small Hong Kong office to supply Chinese steelmakers with iron ore, manganese and chrome, admitted as much in a valedictory note to investors.

— jack farchy, Bloomberg.com, "Man Who Helped Bury Lehman Turns to Saving Troubled Trader Noble", 15 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'valedictory'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.