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

capitalized : 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

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

Bond is based on British author Ian Fleming's character, who first appeared in the 1953 novel Casino Royale. —Nicholas Rice, People.com, 28 June 2025

The open letter's thesis is twofold: stand against AI use in publishing and protect authors whose work is used to train AI outside of the industry. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 28 June 2025

Verb

Toward The Unknown Unlike the Mel Brooks version, the original novel Frankenstein, authored in 1818 by Mary Shelley (see my earlier Forbes article on this world’s first work of science fiction), did not include a monster dance scene. —Robert C. Wolcott, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Since being founded in 2023, Deep Fusion’s management have authored several policy papers on AI, as the entertainment world continues to wrestle with how to approach the technologically ethically. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 June 2025

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