- Today's Word
Valedictory
val-uh-DIK-tuh-ree
Definition
(adjective/noun) Expressing farewell; a speech or statement made as a goodbye.
Example
Her valedictory remarks brought the entire auditorium to tears.
Fun Fact
Valedictory is most familiar during graduation season, but its use spans politics, literature, and public life. A valedictory address isn’t just a farewell—it often reflects on the past and sets a tone for the future. Famous political valedictories include presidential exit speeches, but even retiring CEOs deliver them. Its Latin roots—vale dicere, meaning “to say farewell”—give it a sense of ceremony and finality.
(adjective) Showy but cheap and of poor quality; lacking good taste.
The room was filled with tawdry decorations that looked like they came from a discount bin.
Mid 17th century: contraction of St. Audrey’s lace, which referred to cheap lace sold at fairs in honor of St. Audrey. Over time, the lace was seen as gaudy and tasteless, and St. Audrey became tawdry.