salutatorian

[ suh-loo-tuh-tawr-ee-uh n, -tohr- ]

/ səˌlu təˈtɔr i ən, -ˈtoʊr- /

noun

(in some U.S. schools and colleges) the student ranking second highest in the graduating class, who delivers the salutatory at commencement.

Nearby words

Origin of salutatorian

An Americanism dating back to 1840–50; salutatory + -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for salutatorian

INSIDER TIP: Head downtown for salutatorian Fusion Taco, another food truck turned brick-and-mortar.
Foodie Heaven in Houston|Michele Meyer|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A scholar-athlete, he was salutatorian in his graduating class.
Peyton Manning Vs. Richard Sherman|Allen Barra|January 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But Bettie, with a 97.19 average, was beat out by .14 points, and had to settle for Salutatorian status.
‘Bettie Page Reveals All,’ A Close-Up Look at the Pinup Goddess and Sexual Icon|Marlow Stern|November 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
May 29, 1884, he graduated from the Atlanta Baptist College as salutatorian.
Twentieth Century Negro Literature|Various

All the salutatorian had to do was to sit still and hear what the other speakers had to say and feel good.
Princeton Stories|Jesse Lynch Williams

Word Origin and History for salutatorian

salutatorian

1841, American English, from salutatory "of the nature of a salutation," here in the specific sense "designating the welcoming address given at a college commencement" (1702) + -ian. The address was originally usually in Latin and given by the second-ranking graduating student.