treasury

noun

trea·​sury ˈtre-zh(ə-)rē How to pronounce treasury (audio)
ˈtrā-
plural treasuries
1
a
: a place in which stores of wealth are kept
b
: the place of deposit and disbursement of collected funds
especially : one where public revenues are deposited, kept, and disbursed
c
: funds kept in such a depository
2
Treasury
a
: a governmental department in charge of finances and especially the collection, management, and expenditure of public revenues
b
: the building in which the business of such a governmental department is transacted
3
Treasury plural also Treasurys : a government security (such as a note or bill) issued by the Treasury
4
: a repository for treasures
a treasury of poems
5
obsolete : treasure

Examples of treasury in a Sentence

A government official has been accused of stealing from the nation's treasury. The fees are deposited into the state's treasury. A part of the nation's treasury is spent on space exploration. The author has collected a treasury of facts and lore about horses.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Relations | Opinion Trump's Tariffs and the Renaissance of American Manufacturing | Opinion Sen. Tuberville: Trump Tariffs Gave America Leverage | Opinion Trump's tariff plans sent a jolt to an already jittery bond market, causing Asian buyers to dump their treasuries. Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Apr. 2025 Normally, when the stock market is in distress, investors seek refuge in U.S. treasuries, pushing the value of the dollar upward. Erika Page, Christian Science Monitor, 16 Apr. 2025 Additional work to drain the swamp would drain the state’s treasury. Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2025 Lawrence Summers, former treasury secretary and director of the National Economic Council, estimated that the tariffs could cost the U.S. economy $30 trillion in lost value—roughly $300,000 per family of four. Nik Popli, Time, 3 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for treasury

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tresorie, from Anglo-French, from tresor treasure

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of treasury was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Treasury.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/treasury. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

treasury

noun
trea·​sury ˈtrezh-(ə-)rē How to pronounce treasury (audio)
ˈtrāzh-
plural treasuries
1
a
: a place in which stores of wealth are kept
b
: the place where collected funds are stored and paid out
2
capitalized : a government department in charge of finances

Legal Definition

treasury

noun
plural treasuries
1
a
: a place in which stores of wealth are kept
b
: the place of deposit and disbursement of collected funds
especially : one where public revenues are deposited, kept, and disbursed
c
: funds kept in such a depository
2
capitalized
a
: a governmental department in charge of finances and especially the collection, management, and expenditure of public revenues
b
: the building in which the business of such a governmental department is transacted
3
capitalized : a government security (as a note or bill) issued by the Treasury
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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