# chancery

/ˈtʃænsɝi/ (US) · /tʃˈɑːnsəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chancery
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. diplomatic building

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the building or office where an embassy or diplomatic mission does its work.

For teachers: the building or suite of offices that houses a diplomatic mission or embassy.

- The protesters gathered outside the chancery to hand over their petition to the ambassador.
- Security was tightened around the chancery following the announcement of the new trade restrictions between the two nations.

### 2. court of law

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Formal

a specific type of court that deals with fairness and trusts rather than just strict laws.

For teachers: a court of equity, or a division of a high court that exercises jurisdiction in equity matters.

- The family took their dispute over the inheritance to the court of chancery.
- The case was transferred to chancery because the standard legal remedies were deemed insufficient to provide a fair outcome.

### 3. church office

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the office that handles the business and records of a bishop or a church district.

For teachers: the administrative office of a diocese, responsible for maintaining records and managing official business.

- You need to contact the chancery to get a copy of your baptismal certificate.
- The bishop spent the morning at the chancery reviewing the financial reports from the local parishes.

### 4. boxing position

noun · CEFR C2 · Slang · Archaic

a position where a boxer holds their opponent's head under one arm.

For teachers: a position in which a boxer's head is held under the opponent's arm, leaving them vulnerable to being hit.

- The fighter was caught in chancery and couldn't defend himself from the punches.
- In the bare-knuckle era, getting an opponent's head into chancery was a common tactic to end a fight quickly.

Teaching tip: This sense is largely archaic and mostly found in historical sports writing or literature.

## Examples

- The lawyers met in the chancery to discuss the case.
- The city's chancery handles all the paperwork for new business licenses and property registrations.
- The historical chancery served as the primary administrative hub for the kingdom, housing the most sensitive legal documents and the royal seal.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.