autograph

1 of 3

noun

au·​to·​graph ˈȯ-tə-ˌgraf 

: something written or made with one's own hand:

a

: an original manuscript or work of art

b

: a person's handwritten signature

autography

ȯ-ˈtä-grə-fē 

noun

autograph

2 of 3

adjective

: being in the writer's own handwriting : not copied or duplicated

an autograph letter

autograph

3 of 3

verb

autographed; autographing; autographs

transitive verb

1

: to write with one's own hand

2

: to write one's signature in or on

autograph a book

Synonyms of autograph

Noun

• signature
• hand

Verb

• sign

Examples of autograph in a Sentence

Noun

We asked her for her autograph.

There were several autograph seekers outside the theater.

Verb

asked the baseball player to autograph the bill of his cap

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

He was later seen signing autographs for young fans as the ceremonies came to a close. —Brendan Connelly, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2026

New York had an open practice and autograph session with fans Saturday at Family Sports Center. —Corey Masisak, Denver Post, 16 Mar. 2026

Adjective

Michelle Smith, one of Chamberlain's nieces, noted that the former 76ers star enjoyed getting involved in the community and never turned down an autograph request. —CBS News, 12 Mar. 2026

Lamar Jackson is coming back to the Louisville area this weekend when the former University of Louisville quarterback holds two autograph signing events at Planet Fitness clubs. —Jake Lourim, The Courier-Journal, 9 Jan. 2018

Verb

Metallica design by Squindo, autographed by all Metallica band members. —Todd Spangler, Variety, 19 Mar. 2026

The auction includes other, less-pricey Shag prints and items, including an 8-inch Tiki Room totem mug (autographed on tag) and a lunchbox saluting Disneyland’s 50th anniversary. —Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

borrowed from New Latin autographum "manuscript in a person's own handwriting, the author's own manuscript," noun derivative from neuter of Latin autographus "written in one's own hand," borrowed from Greek autógraphos, from auto- auto- + -graphos -graph

Note: Early Modern English has besides autograph the forms with Latin and Greek endings autographum and autographon. Compare French (sixteenth century) aftographe, autographe "manuscript in the hand of the author," another possible direct source for the English word.

Adjective

borrowed from Latin & Greek; Latin autographus "written in one's own hand," borrowed from Greek autógraphos — more at autograph entry 1

Verb

derivative of autograph entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1605, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

circa 1676, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing autograph

• autograph book

Rhymes for autograph

• biograph
• cenotaph
• chronograph
• epigraph
• epitaph
• hodograph
• holograph
• hydrograph
• lithograph
• micrograph
• monograph
• multigraph

Kids Definition

autograph

1 of 2 noun

au·​to·​graph ˈȯt-ə-ˌgraf 

: a person's signature written by hand

autograph

2 of 2 verb

: to write one's signature in or on