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

That accountability remains human and institutional—and gives authorship its weight. — Deepa Nagraj, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

OpenAI announced that its models had solved one of math’s most famous problems — and immediately sparked a controversy over authorship and standards. — Jordana Cepelewicz, Quanta Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026

To me, that’s the difference between representation and authorship. — Kai Naima Williams, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Dáiddadállu consists of 22 artists, spanning visual arts, film, dance, theater, authorship, choreography, design, music and joik, a traditional form of song. — News Desk, Artforum, 29 Sep. 2026

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