salutatory

A salutatory is the adjective relating to a greeting or to a formal speech delivered to greet an audience. In practice, the term is most often encountered in the phrase salutatory address or salutatory speech, which refers to an opening remarks delivered at the start of a ceremonial event.

Etymology and meaning: Salutatory comes from Latin salutatorius, meaning “pertaining to a greeting,” itself from salutatio, a greeting. In English, the word has come to denote not just the act of greeting but also the specific speech that performs that function at certain occasions.

Usage and context: The most common modern use of salutatory is in the context of graduation ceremonies. The salutatory address is typically delivered at the beginning of the ceremony and serves to welcome attendees, acknowledge contributors, and set a tone for the proceedings. In many schools, the speaker is designated as the salutatorian, an honor typically given to a student who ranks highly in the class; however, the salutatory speech is not exclusively the job of that individual in every institution.

Distinctions: The salutatory is distinct from the valedictory or valedictorian’s speech, which is delivered at the end of a graduation ceremony. While the salutatory emphasizes greetings and introduction, the valedictory often reflects on the past and offers closing reflections. Outside graduation contexts, salutatory can describe any formal greeting address given at the outset of an event.

See also: salutations, salutatory address, salutatorian, valedictorian, commencement.