signatory

noun

sig·​na·​to·​ry ˈsig-nə-ˌtȯr-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

Did you know?

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

Four of the signatories were Republicans. —Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 17 Nov. 2025

The aim is to build confidence between signatories to the agreement. —Simonetta Di Pippo, Space.com, 15 Nov. 2025

Grijalva, who won a special election to replace her late father, Raul Grijalva, promptly became the 218th signatory. —Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2025

The White House has been whipping the three signatories to remove their names to no avail. —Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 12 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin signatorius of sealing, from signare

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for signatory

• allegory
• amatory
• auditory
• category
• clerestory
• crematory
• desultory
• dilatory
• dormitory
• excretory
• extempore
• feudatory

Legal 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