chancery

noun

chan·​cery ˈchan(t)-sə-rē 

ˈchan(t)s-rē

plural chanceries

1

: a record office for public archives or those of ecclesiastical, legal, or diplomatic proceedings

2

a

capitalized : a high court of equity in England and Wales with common-law functions and jurisdiction over causes in equity

b

: a court of equity in the American judicial system

c

: the principles and practice of judicial equity

3

a

: a chancellor's court or office or the building in which it is located

b

: the office in which the business of a Roman Catholic diocese is transacted and recorded

c

: the office of an embassy : chancellery sense 3

Phrases

in chancery

1

: in litigation in a court of chancery

also : under the superintendence of the lord chancellor

a ward in chancery

2

: in a hopeless predicament

Examples of chancery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As a chancery clerk in northeastern Mississippi’s Lee County, Bill Benson has long dealt with people seeking to file commitment affidavits asserting that someone, often a family member, should be forced into treatment. —Kate Royals, ProPublica, 13 May 2024

The diocese is developing a three-story, 20,000-square-foot building at 902 N. 8th Street, which will serve as its chancery, or administrative offices. —Sarah Cutler, Idaho Statesman, 8 Feb. 2024

By comparison, a Delaware chancery judge starts at almost $185,000. —Madlin Mekelburg, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024

The state’s chancery court prides itself on dealing swiftly and predictably with all manner of corporate litigation. —Rachel Lerman, Washington Post, 19 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English chancerie, alteration of chancelerie chancellery, from Anglo-French, from chanceler

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Kids Definition

chancery

noun

chan·​cery ˈchan(t)s-(ə-)rē 

plural chanceries

: a record office for public archives

Legal Definition

chancery

noun

chan·​cery ˈchan-sə-rē 

1

capitalized : the court having equity jurisdiction in England and Wales and presided over by the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain

Note: Formerly a separate court, the Chancery is now a division of the Supreme Court of Judicature in England.

2

a

: court of equity

cases decided in chancery

b

: the principles and practice of judicial equity

court of chancery

see also equity compare law

Note: There are chancery courts in Arkansas, Delaware, Mississippi, New Jersey, and Tennessee.

Etymology

Middle English chauncery, alteration of chancellerie chancellor's office