plural signatories
: a signer with another or others
signatories to a petition
especially : a government bound with others by a signed convention
signatory adjective

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The collective added that its initial open letter – early signatories of which included Pink Floyd co-founder Roger Waters, Nobel Prize-winning writer Annie Ernaux and directors Matteo Garrone and Isabel Coixet – had since garnered 1,000 signatures. Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 See the full letter (also posted online here with notes) and list of signatories below. Alex Ritman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026 Below is the letter, and list of signatories, in its entirety. Dan Sheehan, Literary Hub, 1 Sep. 2026 The 2026 signatories include directors Isabel Coixet, Céline Sciamma and Matteo Garrone, Palestinian directors Arab Nasser and Tarzan Nasser, French-Israeli director Eyan Sivan. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for signatory

Word History

Etymology

Latin signatorius of sealing, from signare

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of signatory was in 1826

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Cite this Entry

“Signatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/signatory. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Legal Definition

signatory

noun
plural signatories
: a signer with another or others
signatories to a petition
especially : a government bound with others by a signed convention
signatory adjective
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