Definition

A person to whom a book, piece of music, or other work is dedicated.

Example

The author chose her grandmother as the dedicatee of her novel.

Conversation

Did you see the new book by that author we like?

Yeah, I heard it's dedicated to a special dedicatee.

I wonder who it is; it must be someone important to them.

I hope they reveal it in the book's acknowledgments!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Dedicatee is formed from "dedicare" (meaning to consecrate or devote) and the suffix "-ee" (meaning the person who is the recipient of an action). The word refers to a person to whom something is dedicated or devoted.

Memory Tip

Think of someone who is 'devoted' ('dedicare') to a particular purpose or work, and the '-ee' indicates that this person is the recipient of that dedication.

Visually Confused Words