noun
Uncommon
repository
rih-POZ-ih-trih
Repository (noun) means a place where things are stored, often for safekeeping. Example: “The archive serves as a repository for the city's historical records.”
noun
1
A place where things are stored, often for safekeeping.
"The archive serves as a repository for the city's historical records."
2
A location where digital files, such as source code or software packages, are stored and managed.
"Over the years, openSNP became one of the largest repositories of its kind, used in research, education, and even community-led investigations like debunking flawed CFS genetic studies."
— Bill Toulas, Genetic data site openSNP to close and delete data over privacy concerns (2025)
"OpenSNP, a fourteen-year-old open source repository for genetic records, will shut down and delete all its data at the end of April."
— Thomas Claburn, Genetic data repo OpenSNP to self-destruct before authoritarians weaponize it (2025)
"All the project's code lives in a shared online repository."
How to use repository
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA storage place — physical or digital — for keeping things safe.
Common pairings
code repository
data repository
central repository
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Word forms
- Plural
- repositories
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The archive serves as a _____ for the city's historical records.
Etymology
From Latin repositorium, a place for putting things back or setting things down for storage.
Related words
Rhymes for repository
See all rhymes for repository →Frequently asked questions
What does “repository” mean?
The word “repository” means a place where things are stored, often for safekeeping. In plain terms, a storage place — physical or digital — for keeping things safe.
How do you pronounce “repository”?
“Repository” is pronounced rih-POZ-ih-trih (/ɹɪˈpɑ.zɪˌtɔɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “repository” in a sentence?
Here is “repository” used in a sentence: “The archive serves as a repository for the city's historical records.”
What part of speech is “repository”?
“Repository” is a noun.
Where does the word “repository” come from?
The word “repository” comes from Latin. From Latin repositorium, a place for putting things back or setting things down for storage.
Is “repository” a common word?
“Repository” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “repository” have?
“Repository” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a place where things are stored, often for safekeeping.
