valediction

American  

[val-i-dik-shuhn] / ˌvæl ɪˈdɪk ʃən /

noun

1. an act of bidding farewell or taking leave.

2. an utterance, oration, or the like, given in bidding farewell or taking leave; valedictory.

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valediction British  

/ ˌvælɪˈdɪkʃən /

noun

1. the act or an instance of saying goodbye

2. any valedictory statement, speech, etc

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Etymology

Origin of valediction

1605–15; < Latin valedictiōn- (stem of valedictiō ), equivalent to valedict ( us ), past participle of valedīcere ( vale farewell + dictus, past participle of dīcere to say) + -iōn- -ion

Example Sentences

Neither can most memoirs, but, at 85 years, Atwood’s valediction to readers shares “many strange happenings, incidents of malice, odd dreams, conversations, joyful moments, ghosts, stupid mistakes, and catastrophes.”

From Los Angeles Times

It’s all combining in a season of valediction for the eternal misfit whose life and career recently got the documentary treatment in “Let the Canary Sing” on Paramount+.

From Los Angeles Times

The set opened with a full run of “Seven Psalms,” a short yet profound song cycle in which a dense, ornamental acoustic guitar figure recurs over several songs in an intimate valediction.

From Los Angeles Times

The service will end with the final commendation and valediction, marking the beginning of nine days of mourning for the Pope, the Catholic news agency reported.

From BBC

The standard bearers of SoCal’s punk scene for more than five decades promised they’d hang it up with “Smoke & Fiction,” a compelling valediction of an LP released this year.

From Los Angeles Times