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Valedictorian vs Commencement - What's the difference?

valedictorian | commencement |

As nouns the difference between valedictorian and commencement

is that valedictorian is (us|canada|properly) the individual in a graduating class who delivers the farewell or valedictory address, usually the person who graduates with the highest grades while commencement is the first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start.

valedictorian

English

Noun

(en noun)
  • (US, Canada, properly) The individual in a graduating class who delivers the farewell or valedictory address, usually the person who graduates with the highest grades.
  • (US, Canada, colloquial) The individual in a graduating class who graduates with the highest grades.

    • Related terms

    * valediction

    See also

    * salutatorian

    commencement

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The first existence of anything; act or fact of commencing; rise; origin; beginning; start.
    • The time of Henry VII ... nearly coincides with the commencement of what is termed modern history. -allam.
    1800 , William Took, View of the Russian empire during the reign of Catharine the Second
  • :: Yet from the commencement of mining there have been unnoble proprietors of mines, who belonged to the class of merchants.
  • The day when degrees are conferred by colleges and universities upon students and others.
  • A graduation ceremony, from a school, college or university.

    • Related terms

    * commence

    Coordinate terms

    * (graduation ceremony) (l)

    References

    * English contranyms ----