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Glite Dictionary
valedictory speaker

valedictory speaker

7.3
A student who gives the farewell speech at graduation
  • noun
  • /ˌvælɪˈdɪktəri ˈspiːkər/
  • Formal
translation icon : orador de despedida
  • Emma was chosen as the valedictory speaker for her outstanding academic achievements.

Examples

  • The valedictory speaker delivered an inspiring message to the graduating class.

  • Each year, the school holds auditions to select the valedictory speaker.

  • The valedictory speaker inspired everyone at the graduation ceremony.

  • Who will be the valedictory speaker this year?

  • Emma was chosen as the valedictory speaker for her outstanding academic achievements.

  • The valedictory speaker delivered an inspiring message to the graduating class.

  • Each year, the school holds auditions to select the valedictory speaker.

Synonyms

valedictorian
vsvaledictory speaker
  • US
42 7.9

A student with the highest grades who gives a speech at graduation

is the student chosen to give the farewell speech regardless of academic rank

Surface Forms

valedictory speaker singular
valedictory speakers plural

Morphology

valedictory + speaker

The meaning 'the person who delivers a farewell speech' is directly and compositionally derived from 'valedictory' (relating to a farewell remark) combined with 'speaker' (one who gives a speech). A learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE’s core meaning; the additional cultural detail that this role is often filled by the top-ranked student (valedictorian) does not affect basic compositional transparency.

Etymology

Valedictory speaker comes from the Latin words vale and dicere, where vale means 'goodbye' and dicere means 'to say'. So a valedictory speaker is the student who gives the farewell speech, literally the one who 'says goodbye' to the class.