farewell

¹

[fair-wel]

interjection

1. goodbye; may you fare well.

   Farewell, and may we meet again in happier times.

noun

1. an expression of good wishes at parting.

   They made their farewells and left.

2. leave-taking; departure.

   a fond farewell.

3. a party given to a person who is about to embark on a long journey, retire, leave an organization, etc.

adjective

1. parting; valedictory; final.

   a farewell performance.

Farewell

²

[fair-wel]

noun

1. Cape, a cape in S Greenland: most southerly point of Greenland.

farewell

/ ˌfɛəˈwɛl /

1. goodbye; adieu

noun

1. a parting salutation

2. an act of departure; leave-taking

3. (modifier) expressing leave-taking

   a farewell speech

verb

1. to honour (a person) at his departure, retirement, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of farewell¹

First recorded in 1325–75, farewell is from the Middle English word farwel. See fare, well ¹

Example Sentences

A member of the staff signs a farewell board on closing day at Glenn Medical Center on October 21, 2025.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But he made clear last week he was just saying goodbye, not farewell.

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Angelica and Eliza encouraged Hamilton and helped him refine his ideas, including his defense of the Constitution and his crafting of George Washington’s farewell address.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The siblings' farewell was "more just wishing her to go and have a nice time", says Zak.

Read more on BBC

After hugs and farewells, they walk back out into the night, still unnoticed.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• adieu 
• bon voyage 
• goodbye