farewell means parting, valedictory, final. It carries an Arena rating of 1485, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, farewell ranks #2,356 of 14,297 for Best Fossil-Poetry Words, #2,382 of 14,414 for Most Elegant Words, #7,082 of 14,423 for Most Sublime Words, #7,102 of 14,448 for Funniest Words.
farewell is pronounced /fɛəˈwɛl/.
Why “farewell” is a great word
A parting salutation of good wishes, implying a journey ahead. From the Middle English imperative phrase 'fare wel!', from the verb 'fare' (to journey, travel) + 'well' (prosperously, happily), with cognates across Germanic languages suggesting a Proto-Germanic origin. Unlike 'goodbye'—a contracted, casual 'God be with ye'—or 'adieu'—a solemn French surrender 'to God'—'farewell' is a native English injunction to travel prosperously. It is the word spoken at the quayside, heavy with finality; the firm handshake between soldiers after the war; the last light held in a doorway as someone steps into the snow. It carries the weight of the road in its very syllables, an ancient charge to go forth into the world, intact.
Etymology
From Middle English farewel, from fare wel! (and the variants with the personal pronoun "fare ye well" and "fare you well" used in the Renaissance), an imperative expression, possibly further derived from Old English *far wel!, equivalent to fare (“to fare, travel, journey”) + well. Compare Scots farewele, fairweill (“farewell”), Saterland Frisian Foarwäil (“farewell”), West Frisian farwol (“farewell”), German Fahrwol, Fahrwohl,
East Frisian forwal,
Dutch vaarwel (“farewell (sadly)”), Danish farvel (“farewell”), Norwegian farvel (“farewell”), Swedish farväl (“farewell”), Faroese farvæl (“goodbye”), Icelandic far vel (“farewell”). The extensive list of cognates suggests a postulated ultimate Proto-Germanic phrase of origin, possibly something akin to *far wela.
adj
- Parting, valedictory, final.“a farewell discourse; the band's farewell tour”
intj
- Goodbye“He said "Farewell!" and left.”
name
- A hamlet in Farewell and Chorley parish, Lichfield district, Staffordshire, England (OS grid ref SK0811).
- A surname.
noun
- A wish of happiness or safety at parting, especially a permanent departure.“He bid farewell to all of his fans.”
- A departure; the act of leaving.“See how the morning opes her golden gates, And takes her farewell of the glorious sun.”
verb
- To bid farewell or say goodbye.“He farewelled viewers with a warm sign-off after each bulletin: "May your news be good news, and goodnight."”
Words closest in meaning
By meaning, not spelling — each word's AI semantic fingerprint, nearest first.
- adieu 91% match — Said to wish a final farewell; goodbye. vs farewell →
- godspeed 88% match — Used, especially at a parting, to express the wish that the outcome of a person's actions be positive for them; typically said to someone who is about to start a journey or a daring endeavour. vs farewell →
- valedict 86% match — To farewell; to make a valediction or parting gesture. vs farewell →
- valediction 85% match — A speech made when leaving or parting company. vs farewell →
- valedictory 85% match — Of or pertaining to a valediction (“an act of parting company; a speech made when parting company”); designed for or suitable to an occasion of bidding farewell or parting company. vs farewell →
- forthfare 85% match — To go forth; go away; depart; journey. vs farewell →
- mourn 83% match — To express sadness or sorrow for; to grieve over (especially a death). vs farewell →
- felicitation 83% match — The act of felicitating; a wishing of joy or happiness; congratulation. vs farewell →