Word
valedictorian
Phoneticsvale·dic·to·ri·an
US/ˌvæɫəˌdɪkˈtɔɹiən/
UK/vˌælɪdɪktˈɔːɹiən/
Definition
n. the student who has the highest grades in their class and gives a speech at the graduation ceremony. This person is usually very smart and hard-working.
n. the student with the highest academic standing in a graduating class, who traditionally delivers a farewell speech at the graduation ceremony. Often used as a title or a proper noun when referring to a specific individual.
Examples
“She was named valedictorian after four years of hard work.”
“The valedictorian spoke about the importance of community and how the school prepared them for the future.”
“While the valedictorian's speech is often a highlight of the ceremony, the title itself carries significant weight in the college admissions process, signaling exceptional academic discipline and intellectual curiosity.”
Examples
simple
“She was named valedictorian after four years of hard work.”
contextual
“The valedictorian spoke about the importance of community and how the school prepared them for the future.”
complex
“While the valedictorian's speech is often a highlight of the ceremony, the title itself carries significant weight in the college admissions process, signaling exceptional academic discipline and intellectual curiosity.”
Etymology
Formed 1759, from valedictory (“of a speech made when leaving”) + -an.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.