Laudatory means expressing praise or admiration. A laudatory speech celebrates someone's accomplishments, like when a principal gives a laudatory introduction before handing out an award. A laudatory book review highlights everything the reviewer loved about the story.

When something is laudatory, it's full of compliments and appreciation. A teacher might write laudatory comments on an excellent essay, pointing out the strong arguments and careful research.

Laudatory differs from simple praise because it suggests formal or public recognition. You might casually praise your friend's drawing, but a laudatory article in the school newspaper would celebrate their artistic talent for everyone to read. Critics write laudatory reviews of movies they think deserve attention and respect.

The opposite would be critical or negative. If a scientist's research receives laudatory attention from other experts, they're recognizing the value and importance of the work. When you achieve something significant and someone speaks about it in laudatory terms, they're honoring what you've accomplished with genuine recognition of its worth.