salutatorian
2
8.5
- noun
- /ˌsæl.juˈteɪ.ɚ.i.ən/
- US
:
salutatoriano
- Felicia and Laverne were valedictorian and salutatorian.
- salutatorians and valedictorians
Examples
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Naomi Karmel, the class salutatorian, welcomed the audience and led them in saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
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Our first speaker is not only the class salutatorian... but is also... one of the most spirited young men... I've ever had the pleasure of teaching.
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Beyond them, their family and friends sat waiting for the joint speech that was to be delivered by the salutatorian and me.
Blog text (34) -
Why am I, Salutatorian of our graduating class, here at my third-choice school?
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When they graduated, he was valedictorian and she was salutatorian.
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Andrew was the salutatorian.
Blog text (34) -
He overcome the dyslexia... ...and eventually wound up graduating John Jay as salutatorian.
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It is my honor today that you get to hear from two of my dearest students, Rebecca Anderson, salutatorian, and Clark Zealand, valedictorian.
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Broderick Smith is salutatorian of Harper-Archer High School in Atlanta.
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When they graduated, he was valedictorian and she was salutatorian.
Synonyms
A graduating student with the second highest rank who gives the opening speech at graduation
Surface Forms
Morphology
salutatorian = salutation (semi-transparent) = salut + ator + ian
The relation to 'salutation'/'salute' signals a greeting and the suffix '-ian' marks a person, but the multi-step Latin-derived morphology and the specialized academic role make the derivation only partially obvious to learners.
Etymology
Salutatorian comes from the Latin root salut- meaning 'greet', a root you also see in salute and salutation. Often the salutatorian gives the opening greeting or speech at graduation and is the student with the second highest rank, so the name reminds you they 'greet' the ceremony.