# repository

/ɹiˈpɑzəˌtɔɹi/ (US) · /ɹɪpˈɒsɪtəɹˌi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. physical storage

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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

- The national library is a repository for the country's most important historical documents.
- The mountain vault serves as a secure repository for thousands of heirloom seeds, protecting global biodiversity against potential disasters.

### 2. digital storage

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

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

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

- The developers uploaded the new code to the project's online repository.
- 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. a person or book with knowledge

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

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

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

- My grandfather is a repository of family stories and local history.
- As the firm's longest-serving partner, she became the primary repository of institutional memory, recalling details of cases from decades ago.

## Examples

- The library is a repository of ancient books.
- The development team pushed their latest code changes to the central repository so everyone could access the update.
- The museum serves as a vast repository of cultural heritage, housing thousands of artifacts that span several centuries of local history.

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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.