What does farewell mean?
Farewell is a word used to express good wishes when parting from someone, functioning chiefly as a noun describing the act or words of saying goodbye, and also as an interjection in more formal speech. It carries a warmer, more solemn tone than everyday alternatives like "goodbye" or "see you," often implying that the separation may be long-lasting or significant — which is why it appears in contexts such as retirement speeches, graduation ceremonies, and memorial tributes. The word also works attributively to mark departure-related occasions, as in a farewell party, farewell dinner, or a leader's farewell address. Historically it derives from the phrase "fare well," meaning to travel well or prosper, so every farewell was once a small blessing for the journey ahead. This blend of formality, warmth, and finality makes it a distinctive and enduring word in English.
An act or instance of saying goodbye; a parting expression of good wishes.
"Their tearful farewells lasted long after the train doors closed."
Often used with verbs like "bid" or "wave," as in "bid farewell" or "wave farewell."
Used as a parting expression meaning goodbye.
""Farewell," she said, turning toward the gate."
Attributively marking something connected with a person's departure.
"The team organized a farewell dinner for the departing manager."
Standard plural; used when referring to multiple acts or expressions of parting, often with "exchange" or "wave".
"After exchanging warm farewells, they boarded separate flights."
"Farewell" literally means "travel well" — it began as a full blessing for someone's journey and shrank into a single goodbye.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of farewell
Farewell originated in Middle English as an imperative blessing: "fare well," literally "travel well" or "prosper." It combines the verb "fare" (to go, travel, or journey) with "well." Over time the full phrase contracted into a single compound word. The same root "fare" survives in related English words such as "welfare," "wayfarer," and "thoroughfare," all preserving the older sense of traveling or faring.
How farewell is actually used
More formal and weighty than a casual "bye," farewell often carries an emotional or final tone, suggesting a long or permanent separation. It is also common attributively before nouns, as in "farewell party" or "farewell address."
Easily confused with farewell
"Wellfare" is not a standard English word; the correct spelling of the related term meaning health and happiness is "welfare."