registry
|reg-is-try|
/ˈrɛdʒɪstri/
official list / record
Etymology
'registry' originates from Medieval Latin, specifically the word 'registrum', where 'registr-' referred to 'a written record' or 'the act of registering'.
'registry' changed from Old French 'registre' (via Medieval Latin 'registrum') and the English noun formed from the verb 'register' + suffix '-y', eventually becoming the modern English word 'registry'.
Initially, it meant 'a recorded list' or 'the place where records are kept'; over time it broadened but has largely retained this sense and has also come to be used for computerized record systems (e.g., the Windows registry).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an official list or record of names, events, or items (e.g., a registry of births or voters).
The hospital maintains a registry of all births for the county.
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Noun 2
an office or place where official records are kept and where certain legal acts (e.g., property transfers, marriages) are registered (often called a 'registry office').
They went to the registry to apply for a copy of the land title.
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Noun 3
in computing, a central database or repository that stores configuration settings and options (e.g., the Windows registry).
Be careful when editing the registry; incorrect changes can cause system problems.
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Noun 4
the act or process of registering or keeping a register.
The registry of new members is handled by the club secretary.
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Last updated: 2026/01/09 05:08