depository

noun

de·​pos·​i·​to·​ry di-ˈpä-zə-ˌtȯr-ē 

plural depositories

1

: depositary sense 1

a depository of ancient tradition

2

: a place where something is placed or deposited especially for safekeeping

a book depository

a depository for government funds

Synonyms of depository

• warehouse
• repository

Examples of depository in a Sentence

The bank is used as a depository for government funds.

Recent Examples on the Web

The oil depositories of the Persian Gulf remain vital to the global economy. —Ray Takeyh, Foreign Affairs, 4 Dec. 2025

Belgium, the home of Euroclear, one of the continent’s chief securities depositories, is wary of taking on the sole legal responsibility for the maneuver. —Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 27 Nov. 2025

Lee Harvey Oswald was accused of carrying out the shooting from the window of a book depository, and Oswald was slain by Jack Ruby days later. —Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 22 Nov. 2025

Until a few weeks ago, however, the Chiefs’ outpost inside SubTropolis flew largely under the radar, serving primarily as a depository for historical documents, films, trophies, uniforms and photos. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see deposit entry 1

First Known Use

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing depository

• depository library
• night depository

Rhymes for depository

• accusatory
• admonitory
• ambulatory
• amendatory
• celebratory
• circulatory
• combinatory
• commendatory
• compensatory
• condemnatory
• confirmatory
• confiscatory

Kids Definition

depository

noun

de·​pos·​i·​to·​ry di-ˈpäz-ə-ˌtōr-ē 

-ˌtȯr-

plural depositories

: a place where something is deposited especially for safekeeping

Legal Definition

depository

noun

de·​pos·​i·​to·​ry di-ˈpä-zə-ˌtōr-ē 

plural depositories

1

: a place where something is deposited especially for safekeeping

night depository

specifically : a bank chosen for the depositing of government funds

2

: depositary