registry

Everyday

1. A registry is an official place or office where records are kept, for example of births, marriages and deaths. tree →
2. An official list or record of things or people, such as a registry of ships or of dogs. tree →
3. (UK) A registry office is where people can get married without a church service. tree →
4. (US) A gift list for a wedding or a new baby, kept at a shop. tree →
5. (computing) A store of settings inside a computer. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life you hear «registry office» in the UK and Ireland, and «baby registry» or «wedding registry» in the USA and Canada. In history and civics it shows how governments keep track of people and property. Phrases: «registry office», «land registry», «wedding registry».

Examples

• My aunt got married at the registry office in town. tree →
• Every baby's birth is written in the registry. tree →
• The land registry shows who owns each house. tree →
• They made a baby registry so friends knew what gifts to buy. tree →
• Each racing pigeon is listed in a registry. tree →
• The ship's name is in the national registry. tree →
• We chose a toaster from the wedding registry. tree →

Note

Plural «registries». Related: «register» (a list, or to sign up), «registrar» (the person in charge of records). In the UK «register office» is the official name, but «registry office» is common speech. Do not confuse with «registration» (the act of signing up).