author

1 of 2

noun

au·​thor ˈȯ-thər How to pronounce author (audio)
1
: the writer of a literary work (such as a book)
a famous author
2
a
: one that originates or creates something : source
software authors
film authors
the author of this crime
b
capitalized : god sense 1
authorial adjective

author

2 of 2

verb

authored; authoring; authors

transitive verb

: to be the author of : write
a writer who has authored several bestsellers

Examples of author in a Sentence

Noun The author of the article didn't check his facts. I enjoyed the book, but I can't remember the name of the author. She is the author of a plan for reforming the school system. Verb authored a new biography of Thomas Jefferson
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The veteran actor caught an online talk presented by Stephen Asma, an author and philosophy professor at Columbia College Chicago. Thr Staff, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 McGuire, an award-winning filmmaker and producer, and a New York Times bestselling author, told Fortune that Hobson contacted her about six years ago about producing the documentary. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 6 Mar. 2024 In Virginia, people were asked to vote for Marianne Williamson, the author and activist challenging Biden who has called for a ceasefire. Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 Cookbook author and New Orleans native Kevin Belton—who has eaten nearly every type of gumbo—says the dish is layered and complex. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Several who worked closely with Gordon accuse him of focusing on his personal brand as a motivational speaker and author, sometimes at Wernle's expense. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Mar. 2024 Black romance authors have been some of the leading advocates for change in the books industry. Carole V. Bell, NPR, 5 Mar. 2024 Europa’s oxygen production could have been significantly higher in the past, the study authors note. Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Mar. 2024 Which is the 1927 author’s way of explaining that healthy yeast doesn’t really produce that good whisky (by the standards of the time). Mark Littler, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2024
Verb
Caroline Rodier, associate director of the Transportation Center at UC Davis, authored a study on more than a dozen car-sharing programs across the U.S. since the early 2000s. Ari Plachta, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 In recent years, she’s also authored three books about her adventures as a working mom. Théoden Janes, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2024 Throughout his career, Bordwell would author, co-author or edit some 22 books and monographs and more than 140 journal articles, book chapters, introductions to collections and review essays, UW said. Diego Ramos Bechara, Variety, 2 Mar. 2024 The law was authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden, a Democrat from Pasadena. Adam Beam, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 Of a balance of power that favored the person behind the camera over the person in front of it, authoring a story for Europeans, by Europeans. Thomas Page, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Each year since 2022, Yoder has authored a bill to eliminate the tampon tax. Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Feb. 2024 In 2021, Jones’ attorney, Deputy Public Defender Christina Moore, authored a motion saying the circumstances surrounding Smith’s identification of Jones were suspicious. Nate Gartrell, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2024 However, the main project in discussion in Brazil was authored by the president of the Senate, Rodrigo Pacheco, which establishes a framework for the development and application of AI systems, as well as the rights of those affected by the technology and the risks involved. Angelica Mari, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'author.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English autour, auctour, actour "originator, creator, authoritative source, writer," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French auctur, auttour, actour "originator, creator, instigator, party, authority, writer," borrowed from Latin auctōr-, auctor "principal in a sale, person entitled to take action or authorize, authoritative writer, originator, creator, agent, founder," from augēre "to increase" + -tor, agent suffix — more at eke entry 2

Note: Variants with medial -th-, as aucthour, authour, etc., become current in the sixteenth century and lead to spelling pronunciations with [θ] in the seventeenth century. The spellings are presumed to reflect association with authentic and its Latin and Greek sources, as author in the sense "the first beginner and mover of anything," as Samuel Johnson put it, is the ultimate guarantor of authenticity.

Verb

derivative of author entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of author was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near author

Cite this Entry

“Author.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/author. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

author

noun
au·​thor
ˈȯ-thər
1
: a person who creates a written work : writer
2
: one that starts or creates
author of a plan for education
author verb

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