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

India signed on as the 27th signatory in 2023, joining a coalition that has now grown to 70 nations. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 14 Aug. 2026

More broadly, Iran’s anti-American stance clashes with the official orientations of all three signatories of the Mecca agreement. — Arash Azizi, The Atlantic, 13 Aug. 2026

Contractors that are signatories to a qualifying collective bargaining or master labor agreement would receive an additional percentage point. — David I. Levine, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026

Its signatories include Anthropic co-founder Jack Clark and Eric Schmidt, Google’s former chief executive. — Sebastian Herrera, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

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
• feudatory
• gustatory

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