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A signatory puts his or her signature on a document that is also signed by others. In 1215 the English barons revolted against King John and forced him to join them as a signatory to the Magna Carta. This agreement stated the barons' own duties to the King but also assigned the barons clear rights and limited the King's power over them. Though the Magna Carta did nothing for the common people, it's often been called the first step toward democracy in the English-speaking countries.
Examples of signatory in a Sentence
a signatory of the Declaration of Independence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Philippines was a signatory to the ICC, but Duterte canceled its membership after the court began probing his drug war.
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Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Officials from the nearly 60 countries that are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty are meeting in Hiroshima for annual discussions on protecting and managing the fragile region.
—CBS News, 12 May 2026
While that can be tricky territory for guild signatories trying to reassure talent that they aren’t being supplanted by cheaper, non-human production methods, an emerging content outlet like Canela has fewer traditional restraints.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 May 2026
Laurie Anderson, Alfredo Jaar and Zoe Leonard are among the high-profile signatories who backed the statement of withdrawal, along with such national pavilions as France, Ecuador and the United Arab Emirates.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 9 May 2026
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Kathleen Magramo, CNN Money, 13 May 2026
Officials from the nearly 60 countries that are signatories to the Antarctic Treaty are meeting in Hiroshima for annual discussions on protecting and managing the fragile region.
—CBS News, 12 May 2026
While that can be tricky territory for guild signatories trying to reassure talent that they aren’t being supplanted by cheaper, non-human production methods, an emerging content outlet like Canela has fewer traditional restraints.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 11 May 2026
Laurie Anderson, Alfredo Jaar and Zoe Leonard are among the high-profile signatories who backed the statement of withdrawal, along with such national pavilions as France, Ecuador and the United Arab Emirates.
—Chloe Veltman, NPR, 9 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for signatory
Cite this Entry
“Signatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/signatory. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
signatory
noun
sig·na·to·ry
ˈsig-nə-ˌtōr-ē 
plural signatories
: a signer with another or others
signatories to a petition
especially
: a government bound with others by a signed convention
signatory
adjective
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