registry

noun

reg·​is·​try ˈre-jə-strē How to pronounce registry (audio)
plural registries
1
2
: the nationality of a ship according to its entry in a register : flag
3
: a place of registration
4
a
: an official record book
b
: an entry in a registry

Examples of registry in a Sentence

the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles got a copy of the couple's bridal registry from the store's computer and scanned it for items we could afford
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This has left individual mayors, who control the civil registry in their municipalities, to make differing decisions in comparable cases. Reuters, CNN Money, 22 May 2025 In February, the nonprofit announced a partnership with Avanade to develop a public registry for its health AI applied model cards. Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 May 2025 The letter came after the start of President Donald Trump’s second term, which has been marked by calls for mass deportation, attempts to end birthright citizenship, an undocumented immigrant registry, and other anti-immigrant policies and rhetoric. Solcyré Burga, Time, 8 May 2025 Prospective donors must be between 18 and 55 and in good health, and the process to undergo the cheek swab and fill out information for a donor registry should take less than 10 minutes. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for registry

Word History

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 4a

Time Traveler
The first known use of registry was in 1589

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Registry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/registry. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

registry

noun
reg·​is·​try ˈrej-ə-strē How to pronounce registry (audio)
plural registries
1
2
: a place of registration
3
a
: a book in which things are recorded exactly and legally
b
: something recorded in a registry

Medical Definition

registry

noun
reg·​is·​try ˈrej-ə-strē How to pronounce registry (audio)
plural registries
1
: a place where data, records, or laboratory samples are kept and usually are made available for research or comparative study
a cancer registry
2
: an establishment at which nurses available for employment are listed and through which they are hired

Legal Definition

registry

noun
reg·​is·​try ˈre-jə-strē How to pronounce registry (audio)
plural registries
1
: registration
an instrument filed for registry in the conveyance recordsLouisiana Civil Code
2
: the nationality of a ship according to its entry in a register
3
: a place of registration : a place where official records and documents are kept
the registry of motor vehicles
registry of deeds

More from Merriam-Webster on registry

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