chancery
Chancery (noun) means a court of equity, or more generally, a government office that handles official records and legal documents. Example: “The dispute over the estate dragged on for years in chancery.”
How to Use Chancery
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA court or government records office; also a wrestling headlock.
The phrase "in chancery" figuratively means being stuck in a helpless, powerless position — from the wrestling hold, not the court.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for chancery
See all rhymes for chancery →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “chancery” mean?
The word “chancery” means a court of equity, or more generally, a government office that handles official records and legal documents. In plain terms, a court or government records office; also a wrestling headlock.
How do you pronounce “chancery”?
“Chancery” is pronounced CHAHN-suh-rih (/ˈt͡ʃɑːnsəɹɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “chancery” in a sentence?
Here is “chancery” used in a sentence: “The dispute over the estate dragged on for years in chancery.”
What is another word for “chancery”?
Words with a similar meaning to “chancery” include in chancery.
What part of speech is “chancery”?
“Chancery” is a noun.
Where does the word “chancery” come from?
The word “chancery” comes from Latin. 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.
How many meanings does “chancery” have?
“Chancery” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a court of equity, or more generally, a government office that handles official records and legal documents.