Dictionary

repository en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ɹɪˈpɑ.zɪˌtɔɹ.i/ (Canada, US)
• (California) audio
• /ɹɪˈpɒz.ɪ.t(ə.)ɹɪ/ (UK)

Etymology

From Middle English reposytorye, from Latin repositōrium. By surface analysis, reposit + -ory.

Meanings

1. A location for storage, often for safety or preservation.
   • Harvard has declined to become the repository of George Segal's controversial sculpture, "Gay Liberation." 1982 February 13, “Statuary Limitations”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 29, page 2:
2. A location for storage, often for safety or preservation. ▸ A storage location for files, such as downloadable software packages, or files in a source control system.
   • OpenSNP, a fourteen-year-old open source repository for genetic records, will shut down and delete all its data at the end of April. 2025 April 1, Thomas Claburn, “Genetic data repo OpenSNP to self-destruct before authoritarians weaponize it”, in The Register:
   • 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. 2025 April 2, Bill Toulas, “Genetic data site openSNP to close and delete data over privacy concerns”, in BleepingComputer:
3. A location for storage, often for safety or preservation. ▸ A burial vault.
4. (figuratively) A location for storage, often for safety or preservation. ▸ A person to whom a secret is entrusted.
5. (dated) A location for storage, often for safety or preservation. ▸ A place where things are stored for sale; a shop.

Forms

Deriveds

biorepository · deep geological repository · cryorepository · multirepository · repo · e-repository · subrepository · content repository

Relateds

deposit · reposit · posit

Synonyms

archive · See storehouse · See storehouse · See storehouse · See storehouse · See storehouse

Translations (101)

ca repositori (storage location for computer files) · fr tombeau (a burial vault) · ca dipositari (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · de Depot (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hu megőrző (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · pl grobowiec (a burial vault) · grc ἀποθήκη (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · fr coffre-fort (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · nl vertrouweling (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · es repositorio (storage location for computer files) · el μυστικοσύμβουλος (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · bg довереница (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · fr chambre-forte (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · mk храни́лиште (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · cmn 倉 /仓 (storage location for computer files) · fr dépôt (storage location for computer files) · ota مخزن (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hu lerakat (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · it cripta (a burial vault) · hu raktár (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · mk склад (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · mi pūkenga (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · it mausoleo (a burial vault) · hy պահեստ (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · bg хранилище (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · ka საცავი (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · bg склад (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · fr répertoire (storage location for computer files) · pl powiernik (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · fi luottohenkilö (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · ru склеп (a burial vault) · pl magazyn (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · it depositario (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · bg довереничка (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · fr mausolée (a burial vault) · ar مَخْزَن (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · sv repositorium (storage location for computer files) · el αποθετήριο (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hy վստահելի անձ (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · ru дове́ренное лицо́ (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · it sepolcro (a burial vault) · el αποθετήριο (storage location for computer files) · fa مخزن (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hu archívum (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · ota انبار (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · bg гробница (a burial vault) · pl składnica (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hy շտեմարան (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · nl opslagruimte (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · uk сховище (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · cs úložiště (storage location for computer files) · it confidente (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · fi varasto (storage location for computer files) · nl opslagplaats (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · cmn 倉庫 /仓库 (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · mk стова́риште (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · sv lager (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · it ricettacolo (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hu gyűjtemény (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hu adattár (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · fr repositoire (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · fi hautaholvi (a burial vault) · ru репозито́рий (storage location for computer files) · ru склад (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · pl repozytorium (storage location for computer files) · cmn 倉庫 /仓库 (storage location for computer files) · de Archiv (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · pl repozytorium (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hy շտեմարան (storage location for computer files) · ru храни́лище (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · nl depot (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · la receptāculum (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · fr dépositaire (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · ary خزنة (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · el αποθήκη (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · bg довереник (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · nl grafkelder (a burial vault) · ru вмести́лище (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · fr référentiel (storage location for computer files) · pl przechowalnia (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · pl skład (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hu tárház (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · de Ablage (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · mk гро́бница (a burial vault) · mk скла́диште (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · pt repositório (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · fi säilö (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · bg хранилище (storage location for computer files) · ca dipòsit (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · la apothēca (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · ja 倉庫 (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · pl powierniczka (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · es repositorio (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hu tároló (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · hu tár (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · cs úložiště (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · fi säilytyspaikka (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · it ripostiglio (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · eo deponejo (a location for storage, often for safety or preservation) · es depositario (a person to whom a secret is entrusted) · it tomba (a burial vault)

repository en · ADJ · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ɹɪˈpɑ.zɪˌtɔɹ.i/ (Canada, US)
• (California) audio
• /ɹɪˈpɒz.ɪ.t(ə.)ɹɪ/ (UK)

Etymology

From reposit or its etymon Classical Latin reposit-, past participial stem of repōnō, + -ory. Compare Medieval Latin repositōrius (“used for storage”).

Meanings

1. (empty-gloss, historical, no-gloss, not-comparable) (military, now historical)
   • During the meeting the non-commissioned officers of the School of Gunnery have been drilling the Volunteers in the use of the breechloading Armstrong, and also in repository work. 1873 August 7, “National Artillery Association”, in The Times, number 27,762, London: Francis Goodlake, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 8, column 4:
   • This important information is only part of the wealth of data, history, autobiography and memorabilia recently uncovered in a tin box which was sealed in the corner stone of the Central School in Spanish Fork on July 13, 1896 as part of the Repository Exercises conducted that day. 1981 June 16, Leland Hicks, “Recovered Box Holds ‘Treasure’”, in The Daily Herald, 108th year, number 276, Provo, Ut., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 24, column 1:
   • During the first week the brigade concentrated an^([sic]) intensive physical training and ceremonial drill, alternating with repository exercises. 1931 August 6, “Best Yet Held: Cornwall Heavy Brigade Camp”, in West Briton & Cornwall Advertiser, volume CLIX, number 3266, Truro, Cornwall, →OCLC, page 11, column 2:
   • The final shift in the repository competition was performed this morning by the first and second detachments of the 3rd Kent men, who were the the^([sic]) winners in the “A” shift in this week’s repository competition, having done the work in 11min. 35sec. 1884 August 21, “The Shoeburyness Competition”, in The Liverpool Echo. […], special edition, number 1499, Liverpool, Lancashire, →OCLC, page 4, column 6: