Meaning

Of or pertaining to a valediction (“an act of parting company; a speech made when parting company”); designed for or suitable to an occasion of bidding farewell or parting company..

Definitions by Sense

1. Of or pertaining to a valediction (“an act of parting company; a speech made when parting company”); designed for or suitable to an occasion of bidding farewell or parting company.
2. (Canada, US) Of or pertaining to a valedictorian (“the individual in a graduating class who delivers the farewell address, often the person who graduates with the highest grades”).
3. An address given on an occasion of bidding farewell or parting company.
4. (specifically, Canada, US) A speech given by a valedictorian at a commencement or graduation ceremony.

Example Sentences

a valedictory oration

Supp'd at Mr. Edwᵈ Sheldon's, where was Mr. [John] Dryden the Poet, who now intended to write no more Plays, being intent on his Translation of Virgil. He read to us his Prologue and Epilogue to his valedictory Play, now shortly to be acted.

While delivering these valedictory observations, Wegg continually disappointed Mr. Boffin of his hand by flourishing it in the air.

It was illustrated on page 617 of our October issue and the class as a whole was the subject of a valedictory article in our August, 1959 issue.

When Fyodor had come up to Izzy six months ago, it had been understood as a valedictory mission before getting shunted to an administrator's job at Roskosmos.

Barcelona have had a habit of collapsing like a poorly constructed millefeuille in away legs over the past four years. But still, as Jordan Henderson hurled himself about in midfield like a labrador puppy chasing flies, as [Sadio] Mané pressed with sniping menace on the left, there was something valedictory in the air.

The first was Larissa Martinez, who divulged her undocumented status during her valedictory speech and told the crowd at her McKinney, Texas, high school graduation she would be attending Yale University with a financial aid package in the fall.

[Jean-Claude] Juncker gave an emotional valedictory. When he stopped speaking, an Italian journalist stood up. "History will judge you, Mr Juncker," the journalist said solemnly, "but we will never forget you" before urging a round of applause for the Luxembourger's "30 years as a true European".

Word Forms

• valedictories

Synonyms for valedictory

Related Words

When Should You Use Valedictory?

Use valedictory when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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