noun
chancery
CHAHN-suh-rih
noun
1
A court of equity, or more generally, a government office that handles official records and legal documents.
"The dispute over the estate dragged on for years in chancery."
2
In wrestling, a hold in which an opponent's head is trapped under one arm while being struck with the other.
"He caught his opponent in a chancery before the referee called the round."
How to Use Chancery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA court or government records office; also a wrestling headlock.
Common mistake
The phrase "in chancery" figuratively means being stuck in a helpless, powerless position — from the wrestling hold, not the court.
Easily confused with
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “chancery”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dispute over the estate dragged on for years in _____.
Etymology
From Old French chancellerie, ultimately from Latin cancelli ("lattice, bars") — the same root as "chancel," referring to the barred area separating officials from the public in early courts.