authorship

noun

au·​thor·​ship ˈȯ-thər-ˌship 

1

: the profession of writing

2

: the source (such as the author) of a piece of writing, music, or art

3

: the state or act of writing, creating, or causing

Examples of authorship in a Sentence

His first attempt at authorship failed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Rakoff previously dismissed Gray’s claim of joint authorship, but allowed the copyright infringement claim to advance to discovery. —Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026

Explore the evolution from VR to AI — and why human authorship remains at the center of storytelling. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 8 Jan. 2026

The question of authorship remains one of Scottish literature’s most enduring debates. —CNN Money, 31 Dec. 2025

Erik Satie took down the arrogance of late Romantic classical music, gently but ruthlessly taking up its vocabulary and removing all the excess, including authorship. —Jeremy Denk, The New York Review of Books, 25 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

author entry 1 + -ship

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing authorship

• co-authorship

Rhymes for authorship

• battleship
• censorship
• chairmanship
• chieftainship
• comradeship
• consulship
• craftsmanship
• dealership
• draftsmanship
• fellowship
• fingertip
• internship

Kids Definition

authorship

noun

au·​thor·​ship ˈȯ-thər-ˌship 

1

: writing as an occupation

2

: the origin especially of a written work