valediction
/ˌvæl.əˈdɪk.ʃən/
"valediction" is a 11-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.
The verdict
“valediction” is outside the top-ranked English vocabulary, used as a noun - the kind of word writers most often double-check.
- Unranked
- below top-frequency English
- 11
- letters
According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - A speech made when leaving or parting company.
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Headword | valediction |
| Language | English |
| Part of speech | Noun |
| IPA | /ˌvæl.əˈdɪk.ʃən/ |
| Letters | 11 |
| Misspellings tracked | 0 |
| Confusable pairs | 0 |
| Source | Wiktionary (kaikki.org) |
Where “valediction” sits in English frequency
Spelling & Dictionary Insight
The English entry for valediction is 11 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ˌvæl.əˈdɪk.ʃən/. It sits outside the most-frequent rank tiers, which is often why uncommon words generate more spelling variants per reader. Wiktionary records 4 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.
The misspelling generator found no plausible variants for valediction, typically a sign the spelling maps closely to how the word sounds. Our confusable-pair dataset has no match for it, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.
Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in 1614; borrowed from New Latin valedictiō, from valedīcō (“to bid farewell”) + -tiō, from valē (“farewell, so long”) + dīcō (“to say”). By surface analysis, valedict + -ion. The correct English form is valediction, spelled V-A-L-E-D-I-C-T-I-O-N.
Definition
- 1A speech made when leaving or parting company.
- 2The act of parting company.
- 3A word or phrase said upon leaving, such as "farewell" or "adieu".
- 4A word or phrase used to end a letter or message.
Etymology
First attested in 1614; borrowed from New Latin valedictiō, from valedīcō (“to bid farewell”) + -tiō, from valē (“farewell, so long”) + dīcō (“to say”). By surface analysis, valedict + -ion.
This word in other languages
Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Using “valediction”
The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.
- The one correct English spelling is V-A-L-E-D-I-C-T-I-O-N - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
- Say it as /ˌvæl.əˈdɪk.ʃən/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
- Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source
Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.