Meaning & use
notary
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Meanings
nouncountablelegal
A person with official authority to witness signatures and confirm that documents are genuine.
Grammar: Plural notaries; short for notary public.
Patterns
- a notary public
- have something notarized
The notary checked my passport and stamped the form.
You need a notary to witness the signature.
She works as a notary at the bank.
nouncountablespecialist
In some countries, a trained lawyer who prepares and certifies legal documents.
Grammar: Common in civil-law countries, with greater powers than in the US.
Patterns
- a notary in something
In France, a notary handles property sales.
The notary drafted the will.
They hired a notary to register the deed.
Word forms
| plural | notaries |
|---|
Common combinations
- notary public
- A notary public witnessed the deed.
- before a notary
- Sign the form before a notary.
- notary seal
- The notary seal was stamped.
- visit a notary
- We visited a notary to sign the papers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- commissioner for oaths
- A British term for someone who can witness oaths.
- attorney
- An attorney represents clients in law and is a different role from a notary.
Word family
- notarize verb
- to certify as a notary
- notarial adjective
- relating to a notary
- notarization noun
- the act of notarizing
Commonly confused: notary or notary vs. lawyer?
notary vs notary vs. lawyer
In the US a notary only verifies identity and signatures, while a lawyer gives legal advice.
Practice
What does a notary typically do in the US?
Choose one answer.
US notaries verify identity and witness signing.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “notary”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.