Key Escrow

A deposit of the private key of a subscriber and other pertinent information pursuant to an escrow agreement or similar contract binding upon the subscriber, the terms of which require one or more agents to hold the subscriber’s private key for the benefit of the subscriber, an employer, or other party, upon provisions set forth in the agreement.
SOURCE: SP 800-32

The processes of managing (e.g., generating, storing, transferring, auditing) the two components of a cryptographic key by two key component holders.
SOURCE: FIPS 185

1. The processes of managing (e.g., generating, storing, transferring, auditing) the two components of a cryptographic key by two key component holders.
2. A key recovery technique for storing knowledge of a cryptographic key, or parts thereof, in the custody of one or more third parties called “escrow agents,” so that the key can be recovered and used in specified circumstances.
SOURCE: CNSSI-4009