scrivener

noun

scriv·​en·​er ˈskri-və-nər 

ˈskriv-nər

1

: a professional or public copyist or writer : scribe

2

: notary public

Synonyms of scrivener

• writer
• author

Examples of scrivener in a Sentence

the roomful of unsung scriveners that it takes to churn out a weekly sitcom

the details of the contract were worked out by a lawyer, I being involved with it merely as a scrivener

Recent Examples on the Web

To join Chanel and the Women’s Prize Trust in celebrating the launch of their new Originators program, a guest list filled with scriveners, storytellers, and Substackers turned out in droves. — Freya Drohan, Vogue, 16 Oct. 2026

Dillon argued that what Smith did was a scrivener’s error and doesn’t rise to the level of fraud. — Deborah Laverty, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026

But in Doerfler’s estimation, the absence of a deportation order in Abrego Garcia’s case is no scrivener’s error. — Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 17 Dec. 2025

Zach Thomas Woods infuses zany comic energy into Edgar, a young Scottish lawyer and scrivener (a copier of documents), sternly religious but desperately horny and infatuated with Ruth. — Jim Higgins, Journal Sentinel, 29 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle English scriveiner, alteration of scrivein, from Anglo-French escrivein, from Vulgar Latin *scriban-, scriba, alteration of Latin scriba scribe

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

scrivener

noun

scriv·​en·​er ˈskriv-(ə-)nər 

: a professional copyist or writer : scribe

Legal Definition

scrivener

noun

scriv·​en·​er ˈskri-və-nər 

: a professional or public copyist or writer of official or formal documents (as deeds or contracts)

Etymology

Middle English, alteration of scriveyn, from Anglo-French escrivein, ultimately from Latin scriba public record keeper, from scribere to write