# signatory

/ˈsɪɡnəˌtɔɹi/ (US) · /sˈɪɡnətəɹˌi/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. a person or country that signs

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a person, company, or country that has signed an official document or agreement.

For teachers: a person or entity that is a party to a formal agreement, treaty, or contract by virtue of having signed it.

- Both countries were signatories to the peace treaty signed last year.
- As a primary signatory to the international climate accord, the nation committed to reducing its carbon emissions by forty percent over the next decade.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'to'.

Teaching tip: This word is almost exclusively used in legal, political, or highly formal business contexts; for everyday situations, 'the person who signed' is preferred.

### 2. having signed

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describing a person or group that has signed an agreement.

For teachers: having signed or joined in a signature; often used to describe the status of a nation or body in relation to a treaty.

- The signatory powers met in Geneva to discuss the new trade rules.
- The signatory nations were required to ratify the agreement within their own domestic legislatures before the end of the fiscal year.

Usage: Typically used before a noun like 'nations', 'powers', or 'parties'.

Teaching tip: In modern English, the noun form is much more common than the adjective form.

## Examples

- The signatory of the contract must appear in person.
- The treaty requires at least fifty signatories before it can become an official international law.
- As a primary signatory of the peace agreement, the diplomat was responsible for ensuring that all terms were strictly adhered to by the participating nations.

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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.