Valedictory Speech: Meaning, Examples & Usage

Meaning 1：valedictory speech (Who's giving the valedictory speech?)

Who's giving the valedictory speech? 🔊

/huːz ˈɡɪvɪŋ ðə ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːri spiːtʃ/

Asking who will be the student speaker at a graduation ceremony, delivering the final speech to say goodbye.

valedictory speech 🔊

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/ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːri spiːtʃ/

A valedictory speech is a farewell address delivered by a student representative at a graduation ceremony.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'vale' (farewell) + 'dicere' (to say) + '-ory', meaning 'of a farewell speech'.

💡 Mnemonic

Valedictory sounds like 'vale dictory' – think 'say farewell' (vale=farewell, dict=say). The valedictorian gives the valedictory speech.

📖 Example

The ceremony is about to start. Who's giving the valedictory speech this year? 🔊 The graduation ceremony is about to begin. Who will be delivering the valedictory speech this year?

🔗 Collocations

deliver a valedictory speech – to give a farewell speech at graduation

valedictory speech writer – person who writes the farewell speech

emotional valedictory speech – a moving farewell address

🔄 Synonyms

farewell address (n.) – a speech given when leaving a place or group

valediction (n.) – the act of saying farewell

parting speech (n.) – a speech made on leaving

🚫 Antonyms

welcome speech (n.) – a speech given at the start of an event

inaugural address (n.) – first speech of a new term

🌱 Derivatives

valedictorian (n.) – the student who delivers the valedictory speech

valedict (v.) – to deliver a farewell speech (rare)

📖 Cultural Story

In ancient Rome, a student called the 'valedictor' was chosen to deliver a farewell speech at graduation, a tradition still common in modern commencement ceremonies.