noun
chancery
An office responsible for official documents and records.
The clerk carries the official letters to the embassy's chancery for filing.
Etymology
The older term names the chancellor’s office. Its work with official writings gave chancery the broader sense of an office preparing or maintaining formal documents.
More examples
- The chancery keeps copies of diplomatic correspondence.
- She works in the diocesan chancery.
- The records remained in the chancery archives.
Forms
chancery · chanceries
Similar words
- archive
- An archive stores records; a chancery also prepares and administers official documents.