author

1 of 2

noun

au·​thor ˈȯ-thər 

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

Author : god sense 1

authorial

ȯ-ˈthȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

author

2 of 2

verb

authored; authoring; authors

transitive verb

: to be the author of : write

a writer who has authored several bestsellers

Synonyms of author

Noun

• writer

Verb

• write
• pen

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

Summary Author and coach Olaolu Ogunyemi redefines effective leadership as self-awareness and creating conditions for others to thrive, rather than always providing answers. — Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Senegal's founding president, Leopold Sedar Senghor, named the boarding school on Goree Island in 1985 after Mariama Ba, the country’s most famous female author. — ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026

Verb

Assembly Bill 1831, authored by Assemblymember Patrick Ahrens, D-Sunnyvale, was a direct response to salary increases for CSU campus presidents enacted in November 2025 and a new executive compensation policy. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 18 Aug. 2026

Speaking of Kiffin, no first-year coach is under more pressure to author a quick turnaround. — Eric Olson, Chicago Tribune, 18 Aug. 2026

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

Phrases Containing author

• co-author

Rhymes for author

• coauthor

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