# adieu

/əˈdu/ (US) · /ɐdjˈuː/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/adieu
Updated: 2026-05-20

## Definition

a formal way to say goodbye. You use it when you are leaving someone or something for a long time.

For teachers: a formal or poetic expression of farewell. Often used in literary or historical contexts to signify a permanent departure.

## Examples

- He said adieu to his old life and moved to a new country.
- As the ship pulled away from the harbor, the captain stood on the deck and shouted a final adieu to his hometown.
- The poet's final collection is a series of elegies, each one a heartfelt adieu to a different era of his life spent in the quiet countryside.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.