Farewell vs. Welcome — What's the Difference?

A goodbye event.

Used to greet someone arriving.

Used to express good wishes on parting.

Expresses pleasure at someone’s arrival.

Can express hope of meeting again.

Used to show relief or approval.

Often implies a lengthy or permanent goodbye.

Often associated with hospitality.

Used in both spoken and written forms.

Can indicate acceptance into a new condition or place.

Used to express goodbye.

A welcome is a kind of greeting designed to introduce a person to a new place or situation, and to make them feel at ease. The term can similarly be used to describe the feeling of being accepted on the part of the new person.

An acknowledgment at parting; a goodbye.

An instance or manner of greeting someone

The act of departing or taking leave.

Used to greet someone in a polite or friendly way

A wish of happiness or safety at parting, especially a permanent departure

Greet (someone arriving) in a polite or friendly way

A departure; the act of leaving

(of a guest or new arrival) gladly received

Parting, valedictory, final.

Very pleasing because much needed or desired

Goodbye.

Allowed or invited to do a specified thing

To bid farewell or say goodbye.

Received with pleasure and hospitality into one's company or home

Go well; good-by; adieu; - originally applied to a person departing, but by custom now applied both to those who depart and those who remain. It is often separated by the pronoun; as, fare you well; and is sometimes used as an expression of separation only; as, farewell the year; farewell, ye sweet groves; that is, I bid you farewell.

Giving pleasure or satisfaction; agreeable or gratifying

A wish of happiness or welfare at parting; the parting compliment; a good-by; adieu.

Cordially or willingly permitted or invited

Act of departure; leave-taking; a last look at, or reference to something.

Used in the expression you're welcome to acknowledge an expression of gratitude.

Parting; valedictory; final; as, a farewell discourse; his farewell bow.

A cordial greeting or hospitable reception given to an arriving person.

An acknowledgment or expression of goodwill at parting

A reception upon arrival

The act of departing politely;

The state of being welcome

To greet, receive, or entertain (another or others) cordially or hospitably.

To receive or accept gladly

Used to greet cordially a visitor or recent arrival.

Whose arrival is a cause of joy; received with gladness; admitted willingly to the house, entertainment, or company.

Producing gladness.

Free to have or enjoy gratuitously.

Greeting given upon someone's arrival.

The act of greeting someone’s arrival, especially by saying "Welcome!"; reception.

The utterance of such a greeting.

Kind reception of a guest or newcomer.

The state of being a welcome guest.

To affirm or greet the arrival of someone, especially by saying "Welcome!".

To accept something willingly or gladly.

Received with gladness; admitted willingly to the house, entertainment, or company; as, a welcome visitor.

Producing gladness; grateful; as, a welcome present; welcome news.

Free to have or enjoy gratuitously; as, you are welcome to the use of my library.

Salutation to a newcomer.

Kind reception of a guest or newcomer; as, we entered the house and found a ready welcome.

To salute with kindness, as a newcomer; to receive and entertain hospitably and cheerfully; as, to welcome a visitor; to welcome a new idea.

The state of being welcome;

A greeting or reception;

Accept gladly;

Bid welcome to; greet upon arrival

Receive someone, as into one's house

Giving pleasure or satisfaction or received with pleasure or freely granted;

Welcome is a greeting used to express happiness at someone's arrival.

Common customs include farewell parties, goodbye hugs, and sometimes giving parting gifts.

Yes, farewell can be used for both temporary and permanent departures.

No, farewell and welcome are used in opposite contexts, one for departures and one for arrivals.

Farewell is a way of saying goodbye, often when someone is leaving for a long time or permanently.

No, welcome can be expressed in person, in writing, or digitally, whenever someone is greeted.

Saying farewell acknowledges the end of an interaction and shows respect for the relationship.

A warm welcome often involves personal touches like using the person's name, a smile, or tailored gestures of hospitality.

In literature, these terms often symbolize beginnings and endings, transitions in character development, or changes in setting.

Typically, yes, a welcome is meant to be positive and inviting, though it can be sarcastic or insincere in some contexts.

Businesses use "farewell" when an employee leaves or a service ends, and "welcome" when greeting customers or new employees.

Different cultures might have unique welcoming customs, such as presenting flowers, performing dances, or special greetings.

Farewells can be emotional, often involving feelings of sadness or loss, but they also provide closure.

Yes, both can be part of formal ceremonies, like farewell banquets or welcome receptions.

Farewells are integral to social rituals, marking transitions and showing collective respect or affection for someone leaving.