notary

Meaning

1. A lawyer of noncontentious private civil law who drafts, takes, and records legal instruments for private parties, and provides legal advice, but does not appear in court on his or her clients' behalf.
2. (common) A public notary, a legal practitioner who prepares, attests to, and certifies documents, witnesses affidavits, and administers oaths.
3. (Canada, US) A notary public, a public officer who serves as an impartial witness to the signing of important documents, but who is not authorised to practise law.

Synonyms

notary public

scrivener

solicitor

conveyancer

public notary

proctor

lawyer

advocate

attorney

barrister

accountant

Translations

notaire

notaio

notario

Notar

notaris

notário

notari

συμβολαιογράφος

escribano

νοτάριος

noter

tabelião

notarius

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈnoʊtəɹi/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: notarie

Cognate with French: notaire

In summary

From Middle English notarie, from Old French notarie (French notaire), from Latin notārius.