English Reference
noun

repository

n.
US /ɹiˈpɑzəˌtɔɹi/ UK /ɹɪpˈɒsɪtəɹˌi/ repos·i·to·ry UK spelling repositories, repository's

  1. 01 C1 Advanced Formal

    a place where things are kept safely, like a warehouse or a museum.

    a place, container, or receptacle where things are or may be stored, often for safety or preservation.

    Simple

    The national library is a repository for the country's most important historical documents.

    In context

    The mountain vault serves as a secure repository for thousands of heirloom seeds, protecting global biodiversity against potential disasters.

    storehousevaultarchive
  2. 02 C1 Advanced Technical Computing

    a digital place where computer files and data are stored and managed.

    a central digital location where data, software packages, or source code are stored and maintained, often with version control.

    Simple

    The developers uploaded the new code to the project's online repository.

    In context

    By hosting the source code in a public repository, the researchers ensured that other scientists could verify and build upon their findings.

    Usage

    Often shortened to 'repo' in informal technical speech.

  3. 03 C1 Advanced Literary

    a person or thing that contains a lot of information or secrets.

    a person or resource regarded as a central source of information, wisdom, or specific knowledge.

    Simple

    My grandfather is a repository of family stories and local history.

    In context

    As the firm's longest-serving partner, she became the primary repository of institutional memory, recalling details of cases from decades ago.

    fountminestorehouse

Experienced workers are vital human knowledge repositories in many organizations.

Phys.org· 16 Aug 2026

Building a comprehensive repository to chase a question that science has already answered inverts the logic of research.

The Conversation· 17 Aug 2026

From Latin repositōrium.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Frequent
Updated