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keynote

keynote

51 4.4
The main speech at a conference that sets the tone
  • noun
  • /ˈkiːnoʊt/
translation icon : discurso principal
  • The keynote speaker will open the event with a presentation on the latest technological advances.
  • a keynote address
  • a keynote speaker
  • give the keynote

I'm on stage doing a keynote on the same exact stage.

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Examples

  • Richard Dawkins gave the keynote address at the recent meeting of the Human Behavior and Evolution Society.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Hansberry delivered this piece for her keynote speech at the AMSAC conference in 1959.

    Academic text (2017)
  • And this is part of a keynote talk I gave recently.

  • Can you deliver your keynote talk without technology?

  • Today is my first keynote speech back in over three years.

  • On Monday, June 20, the opening keynote address clearly set the tone for what followed.

    Academic text (1994)
  • At this year's convention, he was to deliver the keynote address to the Friendship House sales force.

    Fiction book (1997)
  • The audience thoroughly enjoyed the opening keynote presentation by the Jaaxes.

    Academic text (1998)
  • President Studevant then introduced the 2002 keynote speaker, Dr. Michael Olsterholm.

    Academic text (2002)
  • Today, I will deliver the keynote speech at the annual conference, focusing on sustainability.

Synonyms

speech
vskeynote
  • Formal
1.8

A formal talk given to an audience to inform or persuade

serves as the event's principal presentation setting tone and theme
talk
vskeynote
718 1.8

A speech given to an audience

is specifically the principal presentation that sets the meeting's theme
lecture
vskeynote
365 3.1

A talk that teaches people about a subject, often at a university

is the event's main speech that sets theme rather than a teaching talk
address
vskeynote
  • Formal
212 5.3

A formal speech given to a group of people

is used as the event's main speech rather than any other formal talk
keynote address
vskeynote
10 4.4

A main speech at a formal event that sets the tone

is the same idea but used more generally for the main presentation
keynote speech
vskeynote
6 4.2

A main talk at a meeting that gives the event's main idea

expresses the same central message but in a single leading presentation
oral presentation
vskeynote
3 3.4

A talk given to a group, often at school or work

is broader and meant to set the overall theme for the event

Compounds

A main speaker at a conference who gives the most important talk

A main speech at a formal event that sets the tone

A main talk at a meeting that gives the event's main idea

How Important

plenary
  • Formal
4 7.9
keynote
51 4.4
speech
  • Formal
1.8
presentation
435 3.5
talk
718 1.8

Surface Forms

keynote singular
keynotes plural

Morphology

keynote = key + note (semi-transparent) = key + note

The term for the main speech is a conventionalized extension from the musical/ideational sense and learners may need context to map form to function.

Etymology

Keynote comes from the idea of a musical key's note that sets the 'tone' of a piece. That's why a keynote speech is the main talk that sets the 'theme' for a meeting.