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depositary

depositary

1 8.1
A person, place, or group that keeps things safe for others
  • noun
  • /dɪˈpɒzɪtəri/
  • Formal
translation icon : depositario
  • The bank acts as the depositary for valuable documents and contracts entrusted to its care.
  • depositary receipt
  • Depositary Receipts
  • Depositary Receipt (ADR)

Examples

  • In 'Grand Old Depositary' we trust.

    Blog text (29)
  • I thought that referred to some weird American banking thingy—a Depositary—like the GOP but more trustworthy (just as the motto says).

    Blog text (29)
  • Those who identify themselves with the people have confidence in them, cherish, and consider them as the most honest and safe, although not the most wise, depositary of the public interests.

    Blog text (14)
  • The proposed Act's provisions also seem expressly designed to address the question of insurance for the FDIC's imposition of "civil money penalties" against senior officials at depositary institutions.

    Blog text (24)
  • As the depositary of the historical artifacts, the museum ensures their preservation for future generations.

  • The international organization appointed a competent depositary to manage the treaties and agreements among member states.

Synonyms

vault
vsdepositary
238 4.8

A strong locked room or digital place for keeping valuable things safe

can be a person or place entrusted, not only a fortified space
trustee
vsdepositary
  • Specialized
137 4.8

A person or group who manages money and property for others and must act for their benefit

is a broader entrusted role that includes nonlegal safekeeping by people or places
keeper
vsdepositary
106 2.5

A person who looks after buildings, animals, or things

is the formal notion of being entrusted, not just personal caretaking
treasurer
vsdepositary
52 5.0

A person who manages money and pays bills for a group or company

is about safekeeping of things broadly, not the specific financial officer role
custodian
vsdepositary
40 3.8

A person who takes care of and protects things like buildings, animals, or records

focuses more narrowly on being entrusted, including places and organizations too
holder
vsdepositary
  • Specialized
37 3.9

A person who has a check or bond and can get its money

is general entrusted custody rather than temporary possession of documents
depository
vsdepositary
26 5.9

A safe place where people keep documents or other valuable items

is the general idea of being entrusted with things for safekeeping
repository
vsdepositary
21 6.7

A place where things are kept safe for future use

is broader, covering people, places, or groups entrusted with items
archivist
vsdepositary
14 6.9

A person who collects, organizes, and keeps old records so people can use them

is a more general entrusted role, not focused only on historical records
bank vault
vsdepositary
10 3.5

A strong, secure room in a bank that holds money, valuable things, and important papers

covers any entrusted person or place, not just reinforced banking compartments
treasury
vsdepositary
8 4.6

A room or building where people keep money and valuable things safe

is not limited to buildings but includes people and organizations entrusted
conservator
vsdepositary
  • Specialized
5 7.5

A person who cares for and fixes paintings or old books in museums

is chiefly about custody or storage rather than active preservation work
preserver
vsdepositary
2 4.7

A person who protects people, traditions, or objects to keep them safe

emphasizes being entrusted to hold items rather than actively restoring them
depository library
vsdepositary
  • Specialized
6.4

A library that receives and keeps government documents for people to use

is the wider concept of being entrusted, not only official documents
storer
vsdepositary
4.2

A person or thing that keeps items for later use

implies formal trust or responsibility rather than simple storage for later use
depository financial institution
vsdepositary
  • Specialized
6.7

An organization that accepts people's money in accounts and lends or invests it

is about safekeeping in general, not specifically financial deposit taking
storeman
vsdepositary
  • UK
3.5

A person who receives, keeps, and gives out goods in a warehouse or shop

is the broader concept of custody, not limited to warehouse operations

How Trusted

trustee
  • Specialized
137 4.8
depositary
  • Formal
1 8.1
guardian
347 2.8
custodian
40 3.8
holder
190 2.1

Surface Forms

depositary singular
depositaries plural

Morphology

depositary = deposit (transparent) = deposit + ary

The meaning is directly formed from 'deposit' + the suffix '-ary' denoting a person/place associated with deposits, so the sense is predictable from the base.

Etymology

Depositary comes from the common word deposit, which means 'to put down or leave something in a safe place'. So a depositary is a person or place that holds things you give them for safekeeping, like a bank, museum, or safe-deposit box.