notary
Americannoun
noun
-
a notary public
-
(formerly) a clerk licensed to prepare legal documents
-
archaic a clerk or secretary
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of notary
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin notārius “clerk,” from not(āre) “to mark” ( see note) + -ārius -ary
Explanation
A notary is someone with the legal power to witness signatures, verify documents, and take depositions. A notary — also known as a notary public — is a person who has been licensed by a state to perform a few legal functions. The most common one is to witness signatures. For many types of paperwork, you need a notary to be present as you sign, which makes the paperwork official. Notaries also have the power to verify various types of documents and are allowed to take depositions (statements) in some legal situations.
Vocabulary lists containing notary
"Maus II: And Here My Troubles Began" by Art Spiegelman
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Mona Lisa Vanishes
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Voyage of the Frog
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
“A few years ago, I had a falling out with a close family member over climate change,” Aziz Bekishov, who owns a Mobile Notary store in Washington, DC, told Salon.
From Salon • Feb. 24, 2025
Notary Ceramics Cone Glass: Create a mood with these recycled-glass cone glasses from the Portland-based shop.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 12, 2021
Notary, whose work includes “Planet of the Apes,” “Avatar” and “Avengers: Infinity War,” instructed Kornet to move as if she was under water, needing to push through the scene with slow, large movements.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 26, 2021
Notary offices also registered 1,325,394 live births in the first six months of the year, the lowest for any January-June period since the data series began in 2003, Arpen-Brasil said.
From Reuters • Jul. 8, 2021
Please, gentlemen," Bustamente the Notary said, sharply, "you are not to address one another.
From The Five Arrows by Chase, Allan
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.
