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A signatory puts his or her signature on a document that is also signed by others. In 1215 the English barons revolted against King John and forced him to join them as a signatory to the Magna Carta. This agreement stated the barons' own duties to the King but also assigned the barons clear rights and limited the King's power over them. Though the Magna Carta did nothing for the common people, it's often been called the first step toward democracy in the English-speaking countries.
Examples of signatory in a Sentence
a signatory of the Declaration of Independence
Recent Examples on the Web
Several state legislators, aldermen and community group leaders were also among the 50 signatories.
—
Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Medical professionals among the signatories point to issues such as access to adequate care for children and adolescents.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Among the letter’s signatories are Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Rasha Salti, and Rory Tsepayi, three of the curators tasked with realizing Kouoh’s vision, as well as Gala Porras-Kim, Alfredo Jaar, Nina Katchadourian, Khalil Joreige, Walid Raad, and Himali Singh Soin.
—News Desk, Artforum, 31 Mar. 2026
Today all but one of the nonnuclear countries of the world – South Sudan – are signatories to the treaty.
—Debak Das, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
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Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
Medical professionals among the signatories point to issues such as access to adequate care for children and adolescents.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
Among the letter’s signatories are Gabe Beckhurst Feijoo, Rasha Salti, and Rory Tsepayi, three of the curators tasked with realizing Kouoh’s vision, as well as Gala Porras-Kim, Alfredo Jaar, Nina Katchadourian, Khalil Joreige, Walid Raad, and Himali Singh Soin.
—News Desk, Artforum, 31 Mar. 2026
Today all but one of the nonnuclear countries of the world – South Sudan – are signatories to the treaty.
—Debak Das, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for signatory
Cite this Entry
“Signatory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/signatory. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLegal Definition
signatory
noun
sig·na·to·ry
ˈsig-nə-ˌtōr-ē 
plural signatories
: a signer with another or others
signatories to a petition
especially
: a government bound with others by a signed convention
signatory
adjective
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