valedictory

1. not comparableOf or pertaining to a valediction (“an act of parting company; a speech made when parting company”); designed for or suitable to an occasion of bidding farewell or parting company.

   a valedictory oration

   5 more examples

   Supp'd at Mr. Edwᵈ Sheldon's, where was Mr. [John] Dryden the Poet, who now intended to write no more Plays, being intent on his Translation of Virgil. He read to us his Prologue and Epilogue to his valedictory Play, now shortly to be acted.

   1694 January 20 (Gregorian calendar), John Evelyn, “[Diary entry for 11 January 1694]”, in William Bray, editor, Memoirs, Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, […], 2nd edition, volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […]; and sold by John and Arthur Arch, […], published 1819, →OCLC, part I, page 39

   While delivering these valedictory observations, Wegg continually disappointed Mr. Boffin of his hand by flourishing it in the air.

   1864 May – 1865 November, Charles Dickens, “Two New Servants”, in Our Mutual Friend. […], volume I, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1865, →OCLC, 1st book (The Cup and the Lip), page 143

   It was illustrated on page 617 of our October issue and the class as a whole was the subject of a valedictory article in our August, 1959 issue.

   1961 December, “Motive Power Miscellany: Eastern Region”, in Trains Illustrated, London: Ian Allan Publishing, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 760

   When Fyodor had come up to Izzy six months ago, it had been understood as a valedictory mission before getting shunted to an administrator's job at Roskosmos.

   2015, Neal Stephenson, Seveneves, London: The Borough Press, HarperCollins, published 2016, →ISBN, page 93

   Barcelona have had a habit of collapsing like a poorly constructed millefeuille in away legs over the past four years. But still, as Jordan Henderson hurled himself about in midfield like a labrador puppy chasing flies, as [Sadio] Mané pressed with sniping menace on the left, there was something valedictory in the air.

   2019 May 8, Barney Ronay, “Liverpool’s waves of red fury and recklessness end in joyous bedlam”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 25 Mar 2021

   Synonyms: apopemptic

2. CanadaUSnot comparableOf or pertaining to a valedictorian (“the individual in a graduating class who delivers the farewell address, often the person who graduates with the highest grades”).

   The first was Larissa Martinez, who divulged her undocumented status during her valedictory speech and told the crowd at her McKinney, Texas, high school graduation she would be attending Yale University with a financial aid package in the fall.

   2016 June 17, Octavio Blanco, “Undocumented students and the controversial path to affording college”, in CNN Business, archived from the original on 07 Jun 2025

plural valedictories

1. An address given on an occasion of bidding farewell or parting company.

   [Jean-Claude] Juncker gave an emotional valedictory. When he stopped speaking, an Italian journalist stood up. "History will judge you, Mr Juncker," the journalist said solemnly, "but we will never forget you" before urging a round of applause for the Luxembourger's "30 years as a true European".

   2020 March 13, Katherine Butler, “How will we report on the EU now that the UK is out?”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 16 Apr 2020

2. CanadaUSspecificallyA speech given by a valedictorian at a commencement or graduation ceremony.