depository
Americannoun
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a place where something is deposited or stored, as for safekeeping.
the night depository of a bank.
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a depositary; trustee.
adjective
noun
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a store, such as a warehouse, for furniture, valuables, etc; repository
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a variant spelling of depositary
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of depository
1650–60; depository ( def. 1 ) < Medieval Latin dēpositōrium; depository ( def. 2 ) deposit + -ory 1 (noun use of adj. suffix)
Explanation
A depository is a place where things are kept or stored. You might call your city's Natural History Museum a depository of local dinosaur fossils. A library could also be called a book depository, since books are stored there, and the official name of Fort Knox, which once stored much of the gold in the US, is the United States Bullion Depository. The word depository literally means "place where things are deposited," from the Latin root deponere, "lay aside or deposit," combining de-, "away," and ponere, "to put."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Oracle already sold $5 billion in depository shares for mandatory convertible preferred stock in February.
From Barron's • Jun. 2, 2026
The company’s American depository receipts declined 2.4% that day, and continued their slide on Thursday, down 4.3% in midday trading.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
TD Cowen analysts lowered its rating on the stock to hold from buy and modestly lowered its price target on the American depository receipts to $42 from $45.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 10, 2026
"I'm convinced there are still people out there, one in particular who I think was probably in that cash depository that we've never traced," he said.
From BBC • Feb. 21, 2026
Some 14,700 tons of silver worth more than $300 million were procured from the depository on the understanding that every ounce would be returned after the war.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
