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• treasury
  treasury

  noun

  a place where the funds of the government, of a corporation, or the like are deposited, kept, and disbursed.
• Treasury
  Treasury

  noun

  (in various countries) the government department in charge of finance. In Britain the Treasury is also responsible for economic strategy

treasury

American  

[trezh-uh-ree] / ˈtrɛʒ ə ri /

noun

plural

treasuries

1. a place where the funds of the government, of a corporation, or the like are deposited, kept, and disbursed.

2. funds or revenue of a government, public or private corporation, etc.

3. (initial capital letter) the department of government that has control over the collection, management, and disbursement of the public revenue.

4. a building, room, chest, or other place for the preservation of treasure or valuable objects.

5. a collection or supply of excellent or highly prized writings, works of art, etc..

   a treasury of American poetry.

6. Informal. Treasuries, Treasury bills, bonds, and notes.

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treasury ¹ British  

/ ˈtrɛʒərɪ /

noun

1. a storage place for treasure

2. the revenues or funds of a government, private organization, or individual

3. a place where funds are kept and disbursed

4. Also: treasure house.  a collection or source of valuable items

   a treasury of information

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Treasury ² British  

/ ˈtrɛʒərɪ /

noun

1. (in various countries) the government department in charge of finance. In Britain the Treasury is also responsible for economic strategy

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Etymology

Origin of treasury

1250–1300; Middle English tresorie < Old French. See treasure, -y ³

Explanation

A treasury is a kind of bank — it's a place where money and other valuable things are kept, or where a country keeps its wealth. You might guess that a treasury is a place to keep your treasure, and you'd be right. Originally, the word literally meant "room for treasure," from the Old French tresor, "hoard or treasure." Starting in the late 1300s, it also meant "department that controls public revenue," which remains the most common use of treasury today. The U.S. even has an official Department of the Treasury, the part of the executive branch that prints money and collects taxes.

Example Sentences

The order, signed in February last year, directed the treasury and commerce secretaries to deliver a plan within 90 days for a US sovereign wealth fund to "help maximise the stewardship of our national wealth".

From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026

Investors have proved willing to buy anything with an AI label slapped on it, whether one of the endless Silicon Valley startups or, briefly, sneaker maker Allbirds and Trump-affiliated payments company-turned-crypto treasury Alt5 Sigma.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 26, 2026

Bank of America’s top strategist says his key trades for the second quarter are bets on a steepening U.S. treasury yield curve, China tech stocks, “unloved” consumer plays and chip stocks.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 13, 2026

Her letter says she will insist that “transparent audit rights and procedures” be put into place to assure the city treasury does not take a hit in supporting the Games.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

That might mean the palace, but it might just as easily mean the treasury.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

Related Words

• bank
• coffer
• exchequer