A valedictorian is the student who has the highest marks in their class when they graduate from high school, college, or university, and who gives a speech at their graduation ceremony.
[US]
valedictorian in British English
(ˌvælɪdɪkˈtɔːrɪən)
adjective also: valedictory
1.
saying goodbye
2.
of or relating to a farewell or an occasion of farewell
noun
3. US and Canadian
a person, usually the most outstanding graduate, who delivers a farewell speech at a graduation ceremony
valedictorian in American English
(ˌvælədɪkˈtɔriən)
US
noun
in schools and colleges, the student, usually the one highest in scholastic rank in the graduating class, who delivers the valedictory
see also salutatorian
Examples of 'valedictorian' in a sentence
valedictorian
The one who was almost left back is now the class valedictorian.
Isobel Bird CIRCLE OF THREE: BOOK 15 INITIATION (2002)