send-off
SEND-awf
/ˈsɛnd.ɒf/
A demonstration of good wishes for a person who is departing or retiring, often involving a celebration.
Focuses on the event or party organized to bid someone goodbye, ranging from warm gatherings to festive bashes.
The story behind the word. Formed in late 19th-century colloquial English as a noun compound derived from the phrasal verb 'to send off', originally used when seeing off travelers at train stations or steamship piers with cheers and waves.
Word relationships
- farewell party: Farewell party specifically highlights the gathering, while send-off can refer to the overall act or ceremony.
- reception: A reception is held to welcome arriving individuals.
Commonly confused with
- layoff: A layoff is an involuntary termination of employment due to business downscaling.
Word family
- send off (phrasal verb): To dispatch someone or celebrate their departure.
Collocations
- give a send-off
- grand send-off
- fitting send-off
- proper send-off
Idioms & expressions
- give someone a proper send-off
Example sentences
- "The department organized a warm send-off for Martha with cake, gifts, and heartfelt speeches." Office gathering
- "The entire village turned out to give the retiring postmaster a grand send-off." Community event
Memory hook
Sending someone off on their boat into the sunset. Sending someone off with cheers and smiles.
When not to use
Avoid using in legal documents or extremely formal academic dissertations; prefer 'valedictory event'.
Fun facts
- In sports like soccer, 'a send-off' can also mean a red card ejecting a player from the field.
Explore more words
housewarming, valedictory, departure, celebrate, gala, benediction
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.