panegyrist

A panegyrist is a person who composes or delivers a panegyric—a formal, elaborate speech or piece of writing that praises a person, group, or achievement. The role is associated with public occasions, ceremonial events, and the rhetorical practice of extolling a benefactor, ruler, or notable figure.

Etymology-wise, the term derives from panegyric, which comes from Latin panegyricus and Greek panēgyrikos, meaning related to a panegyric; panegyris refers to an assembly. The suffix -ist denotes a person who performs the action or practice described by the noun.

Usage and context have varied across history. In ancient Greece and Rome, panegyrists and panegyrical writers were common at courts and in public life, composing or delivering praise for emperors, politicians, or heroes. In modern language, a panegyrist may be any speaker or writer who extols or lauds someone or something, often in ceremonial or celebratory contexts, and the term can carry neutral, laudatory, or lightly ironic connotations depending on tone and intent.

Notable classical examples include Pliny the Younger’s Panegyric of Trajan, a well-known ceremonial praise of the emperor. The practice persists in various forms, such as political speeches, awards ceremonies, or celebratory essays, where a speaker or writer acts as a panegyrist to honor achievements or virtues.

See also: encomiast, encomium, eulogy, panegyric.