What does notary mean?
A notary is a person authorized to perform formal acts connected with documents, especially witnessing signatures and administering oaths. In the United States, this official is generally called a notary public and is commissioned by a state or local government; the commission usually authorizes particular kinds of acts, such as acknowledgements, jurats, and signature witnessing. A notary verifies identity and willingness, rather than guaranteeing that a document is legally sound. The role varies considerably across jurisdictions. In Britain, a notary is normally a qualified legal professional, while many American notaries are not lawyers. The word also has an archaic sense meaning a secretary or note-taker. Its modern legal role is therefore related to written records but distinct from that of an attorney, solicitor, or ordinary witness.
nounA notary is an officially authorized person who witnesses the signing of documents and may administer oaths, authenticate signatures, or perform other legally prescribed acts. In the United States, the usual official title is notary public.
- An officially commissioned official who witnesses signatures, administers oaths, and performs related legal formalities.
- Archaic: a person whose occupation is to take notes; a secretary or scribe.
"The document must be signed in front of a notary and notarized."
"She took the signed affidavit to the notary before the closing took place."
"The notary verified the identities of the signers and applied the official seal."
The standard plural is notaries, pronounced with a medial /z/ sound.
"The two notaries verified the signatures independently."
Its ancestor was literally a note-taker: Latin notarius meant a secretary or scribe, giving today's notary a name rooted in writing.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does notary come from?
The word comes through Old French notaire from Latin notarius, originally a secretary or shorthand writer. Latin notarius was derived from nota, meaning a mark or sign, reflecting the official's original association with written records. The word later developed its legal sense of an authorized witness to documents and signatures.
Related word forms
How notary is actually used
A notary's authority and the documents they may certify vary by jurisdiction. In the United States, a notary public is generally an officially commissioned official and need not be a lawyer; in the UK, a notary is usually a solicitor or another qualified legal professional. The spelling notarise is traditional British, while notarize is standard American.