Valedictorian的意思是:毕业典礼上的致辞生,荣誉致辞生。通常这类学生的学习成绩非常优秀,属于班级的尖子生。往往在学校活动(school activities)、领导力(leadership)方面也表现突出。参考Wikipedia对Valedictorian的一段解释:Valedictorian is an academic title of success used in the United States, Canada, Costa Rica, and the Philippines for the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony (called a valedictory). 从这段文字中可以看出,Valedictorian这个说法在美国、加拿大、哥斯达黎加、菲律宾最为常见。
Valedictorian这个单词源自拉丁语里的:vale dicere,意思是“说再见”。点这里收听Valedictorian的美式发音。
参考Urbandictionary关于Valedictorian的例句:Jimmy was valedictorian of his high school, he had a 4.0, was starting quarterback, and lead his debate team to nationals. 再来一个MerriamWebster的例句:She was the valedictorian of her class in 1985.
注意与这个词相关的表达还有:graduation ceremony(毕业典礼)、valedictory(毕业致辞)、Commencement speech(毕业寄语)。