Valedictorian
/ˌvæl.ə.dɪkˈtɔːr.i.ən/noun
A student chosen to deliver a farewell or graduation address, often the top-ranked graduate.
Did you know?Valedictorian comes from the Latin formula *vale dicere* (“to say farewell”), a reminder that even elite academic titles began as ritualized words of departure.
Etymological Timeline
Classical Latin
Latin
vale dicere
“to say farewell; to bid goodbye”
Late Latin
Latin
valedictus
“having been bid farewell”
17th Century
English
valedictory
“pertaining to a farewell or goodbye speech”
18th Century
English
valedictorian
“the student chosen to deliver the valedictory address”
Modern English
English
valedictorian
“the graduating student who gives the farewell address, often the class top scholar”
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