registrar: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal, Professional, Technical, Academic
Quick answer
What does “registrar” mean?
An official responsible for keeping official records or registers, often in educational or legal institutions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An official responsible for keeping official records or registers, often in educational or legal institutions.
A senior administrative officer in a university, company, or professional body responsible for student records, enrollment, and procedural compliance. In law, a judge or official with specific jurisdiction, e.g., over probate or patents. In medicine, a doctor in training who is a senior resident (UK). In IT, an entity that manages domain name registrations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'registrar' commonly refers to a medical doctor in a senior training position (hospital registrar). In US English, this medical meaning is not used. In both varieties, the primary academic/institutional meaning is the same, though the scope of the role may vary by institution.
Connotations
UK: Academic/Administrative authority, specific medical career stage. US: Primarily administrative/academic official, associated with university enrollment and records.
Frequency
High frequency in academic and legal contexts in both varieties. The medical sense is high frequency in UK healthcare contexts but absent in US.
Grammar
How to Use “registrar” in a Sentence
[the/our] + registrar + [verb: confirmed, notified, approved, maintains]registrar + of + [institution: the university, the court]appoint + [someone] + as + registrarVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “registrar” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'To registrar' is not a standard verb. Use 'to register'.
American English
- 'To registrar' is not a standard verb. Use 'to register'.
adverb
British English
- Registrarily (extremely rare/not standard)
American English
- Registrarily (extremely rare/not standard)
adjective
British English
- Registrarial duties
- The registrarial office
American English
- Registrarial functions
- Registrarial staff
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company registrar maintains the official shareholder register and handles stock transfers.
Academic
You must submit your final thesis to the university registrar by the deadline.
Everyday
I need to get an official transcript from the registrar's office for my job application.
Technical
The domain name registrar renewed our .com address automatically.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “registrar”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “registrar”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “registrar”
- Confusing 'registrar' (person/role) with 'registry' (place/system). Incorrect: 'I went to the registrar to check the files.' (Better: 'I went to the registry' or 'I contacted the registrar').
- Using the UK medical sense in a US context.
- Misspelling as 'registerar' or 'registrar'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A registrar is a specific, often senior, administrative officer with legal or procedural authority over official records (e.g., student degrees, company shareholders). A secretary is a broader term for an assistant who handles correspondence and clerical work, though 'Secretary General' is a high title.
Yes, a domain name registrar is a company accredited to manage the reservation of internet domain names (e.g., GoDaddy, Namecheap). This is a distinct, technical usage.
In some legal contexts, yes. A probate registrar or a registrar in bankruptcy court can make certain judicial decisions on procedural matters and smaller cases, acting as a kind of junior judge.
Because the US medical training system uses different titles (e.g., resident, fellow). The UK 'registrar' is a specific postgraduate grade after being a senior house officer and before becoming a consultant. This term is not part of American medical jargon.
An official responsible for keeping official records or registers, often in educational or legal institutions.
Registrar is usually formal, professional, technical, academic in register.
Registrar: in British English it is pronounced /ˌredʒ.ɪˈstrɑːr/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈredʒ.əˌstrɑːr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Registrar's good books (academic, informal)”
- “The registrar's stamp of approval”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: REGIster + STAR. The STAR (important person) who manages the official REGIster.
Conceptual Metaphor
KEEPER OF THE GATE / GUARDIAN OF RECORDS (The registrar controls access and maintains official history.)
Practice
Quiz
In which context would you LEAST likely encounter the word 'registrar'?