prothonotary
noun
pro·tho·no·ta·ry
prō-ˈthä-nə-ˌter-ē 
ˌprō-thə-ˈnō-tə-rē
ˌprō-thə-ˈnō-tə-rē
variants
or protonotary
prō-ˈtä-nə-ˌter-ē
ˌprō-tə-ˈnō-tə-rē
plural prothonotaries
: a chief clerk of any of various courts of law
Examples of prothonotary in a Sentence
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Blew is tasked with facilitating naturalization ceremonies in York County, Pennsylvania, as the county's prothonotary -- a clerk who handles civil matters.
—
Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 4 June 2020
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Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 4 June 2020
Cite this Entry
“Prothonotary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prothonotary. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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prothonotary
noun
pro·thon·o·ta·ry
prə-ˈthä-nə-ˌter-ē, ˌprō-thə-ˈnä-tə-rē
plural prothonotaries
: a chief clerk of any of various courts of law
Etymology
Late Latin protonotarius, from proto- first in time + Latin notarius stenographer
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