Meaning & use
valedictorian
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountableAmerican
The student ranked highest in a graduating class, often chosen to speak at graduation.
Grammar: Countable noun; often used with school, class, or name as the valedictorian.
Patterns
- class valedictorian
- name someone valedictorian
- the valedictorian speaks
- graduate as valedictorian
She worked steadily for four years and graduated as valedictorian.
The valedictorian thanked teachers and encouraged the class to stay curious.
At the ceremony, the valedictorian spoke about failure as a useful teacher.
Word forms
| plural | valedictorians |
|---|
Common combinations
- class valedictorian
- He was named class valedictorian after earning the highest grade point average.
- valedictorian speech
- Her valedictorian speech was short, warm, and slightly funny.
- choose the valedictorian
- The school chooses the valedictorian from the top-ranked students.
Word family
- valedictory adjective
- serving as a farewell, especially at graduation
- valediction noun
- a formal act of saying goodbye
Commonly confused: valedictorian or salutatorian? valedictorian or valid?
valedictorian vs salutatorian
A salutatorian is usually the second-highest student and gives a welcoming speech; a valedictorian is highest and says farewell.
valedictorian vs valid
Valid means legally or logically acceptable and is unrelated to graduation rank.
Practice
Which student is the valedictorian?
Choose one answer.
The valedictorian is the highest-ranked graduate and gives the farewell address. The welcoming role belongs more to the salutatorian, not to popularity or party planning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “valedictorian”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.