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

On Tuesday, Fashion for Good and fiber developer AltMat announced the retailers as the Altag Fiber Club’s first brand signatories. — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2026

Thereafter, either the signatories could negotiate a new agreement, or the sanctions would snap back into place. — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026

The signatories include the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions, Palestinian Federation of Trade Unions, General Union of Palestinian Workers, General Union of Palestinian Women and Palestinian teachers' and postal workers' organizations. — Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 29 Oct. 2026

The letter was also followed by a second one from Cologne galleries, with its signatories including Galerie Gisela Capitain, Drei, and Galerie Nagel Draxler. — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 21 Oct. 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