Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
keynote address

keynote address

10 4.4
A main speech at a formal event that sets the tone
  • noun
  • /ˈkiːnoʊt əˈdrɛs/
translation icon : discurso principal
  • At this year's convention, he was to deliver the keynote address to the Friendship House sales force.
  • give a keynote address
  • deliver a keynote address
  • opening keynote address

It was, I know there was his keynote address and that he looked like he had snorted a key.

Examples

  • He asked me to deliver the keynote address at this year's convention in Vegas.

    Intolerable Cruelty (2003)

  • And Chris Gill is going to be giving the keynote address, which is really quite wonderful.

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

    Academic text (1994)

  • The opening ceremony and keynote address were well attended.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Sponsors were recognized for their generous support of both the keynote address and the conference as a whole.

    Academic text (2003)

  • The awards presentation preceded the keynote address this year.

    Academic text (2003)

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

    Academic text (1995)

  • Du Bois gave the conference's keynote address, in which he urged more support for African liberation struggles.

    Academic text (1998)

  • Please welcome your class valedictorian, Jessica Bard, with tonight's keynote address.

    Post Grad (2009)

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

Synonyms

speech
vskeynote address
  • Formal
∞ 1.8

A formal talk given to an audience to inform or persuade

is the principal remarks selected to set the event's theme
talk
vskeynote address
718 1.8

A speech given to an audience

is the single leading remarks meant to set the event's main theme
address
vskeynote address
  • Formal
212 5.3

A formal speech given to a group of people

is the chosen leading remarks that define the gathering's focus
keynote
vskeynote address
51 4.4

The main speech at a conference that sets the tone

is the designated opening remarks that establish the event tone
keynote speech
vskeynote address
6 4.2

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

is used specifically to introduce and bind an event's theme
oration
vskeynote address
  • Formal
6 7.6

A formal speech given at a special event

is oriented toward stating the event theme rather than marking ceremony
oral presentation
vskeynote address
3 3.4

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

is broader, meant to introduce the event's central theme

How Important

keynote address
10 4.4
speech
  • Formal
∞ 1.8
to address
  • Formal
236 4.4
talk
718 1.8
remark
371 1.4
comment
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

keynote address singular
keynote addresses plural

Morphology

keynote + address

The meaning 'a main speech that sets the tone' is compositionally derived from 'keynote' (principal/main) + 'address' (speech), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the combined meaning. This is a straightforward modifier + noun construction with clear cross-linguistic equivalents, making it immediately comprehensible to B1 learners who know the parts.

Etymology

Keynote address comes from music. A key or main note is the sound that sets the whole piece's tone, so a keynote address is the main speech that 'sets the tone' for an event.