Another Word For Notary

Meaning

A notary is a public official authorized to perform certain legal formalities, especially to witness and certify documents, sign and seal them, and take affidavits or declarations. Notaries help ensure that the signing of documents is done freely and without coercion, and that the signers are who they claim to be.

Synonyms

• Notary public
• Signing agent
• Witness (in some contexts)
• Legal official

Antonyms

• Fraud
• Impostor (in terms of someone who falsely represents themselves)

Etymology

The word "notary" comes from the Latin "notarius," which referred to a scribe or secretary. The term evolved over centuries to represent someone who has the authority to certify documents and perform legal functions in society.

Examples

1. Before finalizing the home purchase, we needed to find a notary to authenticate the sale documents.
2. The notary verified the identities of the parties involved before witnessing the contract signing.
3. After the agreement was signed, the notary affixed their seal to provide official recognition of the document.
4. Our university requires a notary to validate the authenticity of certain academic records.
5. When traveling abroad, I had to have my documents notarized to ensure they would be accepted in the foreign country.