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

The Climate Pledge Fashion Coalition, a new bloc of more than 60 signatories across the apparel and footwear supply chain working to achieve net-zero carbon by 2040. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

The letter’s signatories, who have previously backed wealth taxes or higher income taxes on the ultra wealthy, include Daron Acemoglu, Abhijit Banerjee, Peter Diamond, Esther Duflo, Paul Krugman and Joseph Stiglitz. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2026

More than 250 signatories to a nationwide open letter that included professors at Harvard and Stanford also called for a retraction. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 18 Sep. 2026

The signatories argue that a correct answer alone does not capture what makes mathematical research valuable. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 12 Sep. 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