VALEDICTORY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does valedictory mean? 

• VALEDICTORY (noun)
  The noun VALEDICTORY has 1 sense:

1. a farewell oration (especially one delivered during graduation exercises by an outstanding member of a graduating class)

  Familiarity information: VALEDICTORY used as a noun is very rare.

• VALEDICTORY (adjective)
  The adjective VALEDICTORY has 2 senses:

1. of or relating to an occasion or expression of farewell

2. of a speech expressing leave-taking

  Familiarity information: VALEDICTORY used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VALEDICTORY (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A farewell oration (especially one delivered during graduation exercises by an outstanding member of a graduating class)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

valediction; valedictory; valedictory address; valedictory oration

Hypernyms ("valedictory" is a kind of...):

oratory (addressing an audience formally (usually a long and rhetorical address and often pompous))

Derivation:

valedictory (of a speech expressing leave-taking)

valedictory (of or relating to an occasion or expression of farewell)

• VALEDICTORY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to an occasion or expression of farewell

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

a suitable valedictory gesture

Pertainym:

valediction (the act of saying farewell)

Derivation:

valedictory (a farewell oration (especially one delivered during graduation exercises by an outstanding member of a graduating class))

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of a speech expressing leave-taking

Context example:

a valedictory address

Similar:

exaugural (occurring at or marking the close of a term of office)

Derivation:

valedictory (a farewell oration (especially one delivered during graduation exercises by an outstanding member of a graduating class))

 Context examples 

It may be expected that on the eve of a migration which will consign us to a perfectly new existence, Mr. Micawber spoke as if they were going five hundred thousand miles, I should offer a few valedictory remarks to two such friends as I see before me.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)