goodbye

American  

[good-bahy] / ˌgʊdˈbaɪ /

Sometimes goodby, or good-bye

interjection

1. farewell (a conventional expression used at parting).

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noun

plural

goodbyes

1. a farewell.

goodbye British  

/ ˌɡʊdˈbaɪ /

1. farewell: a conventional expression used at leave-taking or parting with people and at the loss or rejection of things or ideas

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noun

1. a leave-taking; parting

   they prolonged their goodbyes for a few more minutes

2. a farewell

   they said goodbyes to each other

Etymology

Origin of goodbye

First recorded in 1565–75; contraction of God be with ye

Explanation

Goodbye is a parting word, something you say to other people when you're leaving. You might say goodbye to all your favorite teachers on your last day of high school. A goodbye means that someone's departing: you say goodbye to your parents when you go off to college, and you also say goodbye to guests when they leave after a visit. The original goodbye, dating from the 1570s, was godbwye, which was a contraction of the farewell phrase "God be with ye!"

Example Sentences

“I think you can kiss that goodbye for 2026,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 15, 2026

It means "forget me not" in the Sesotho language and is also used to say goodbye.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Stadio Olimpico welcomed Totti as a 16-year-old debutant in 1993 and worshipped him until a tearful goodbye aged 40.

From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026

“When I became pre-med, it was so hard for me that I was just tunnel-visioned,” explains Small about why she said goodbye to music.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

“I do understand Colin’s struggle with farewells. But for us, Lizzie, this is not goodbye forever. It’s just goodbye for now.”

From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin

Related Words

• adieu
• bye-bye