manuscript

1 of 2

adjective

man·​u·​script ˈman-yə-ˌskript 

: written by hand or typed

manuscript letters

manuscript poems

manuscript

2 of 2

noun

1

: a written or typewritten composition or document as distinguished from a printed copy

also : a document submitted for publication

The library owns the author's original manuscript.

2

: writing as opposed to print

Synonyms of manuscript

Noun

• handwriting
• calligraphy

Examples of manuscript in a Sentence

Noun

The library owns the author's original manuscript.

a copy of the composer's manuscript

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Ancient book clasps — used to keep manuscript tomes shut — were uncovered at the site, along with styli, the medieval equivalents of pens and pencils. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 30 Oct. 2025

Hiding in plain sight Former Cambridge archivist Sian Collins first spotted the manuscript fragment in 2019 while recataloging estate records from Huntingfield Manor, owned by the Vanneck family of Heveningham, in Suffolk, England. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 9 May 2025

Noun

Although there are plenty of books in three languages (Arabic, French, and English), there are also museums, a planetarium, and a lab dedicated to restoring and preserving ancient manuscripts. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Sep. 2026

The following day, McCartney went to Martin’s home, where the two spent the afternoon mapping out the string arrangement over tea and manuscript paper. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin manu scriptus

First Known Use

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing manuscript

• in manuscript

Rhymes for manuscript

• eucalypt
• nondescript
• superscript
• chipped
• clipped
• crypt
• dipped
• dripped
• flipped
• gripped
• hipped
• lipped

Kids Definition

manuscript

1 of 2 adjective

manu·​script

ˈman-yə-ˌskript

: written by hand or typed

manuscript letters

manuscript

2 of 2 noun

1

: a written or typewritten composition or document

2

: writing as opposed to print