1
: a member of a learned class in ancient Israel through New Testament times studying the Scriptures and serving as copyists, editors, teachers, and jurists
2
a
: an official or public secretary or clerk
b
: a copier of manuscripts
3
: writer
specifically
: journalist
scribed; scribing
1
: to mark a line on by cutting or scratching with a pointed instrument
2
: to make by cutting or scratching
Examples of scribe in a Sentence
Noun (1)
variations between the different manuscripts attest to the fallibility of the scribes who transmitted them
the scribe keeps the minutes of the club's meetings
a book of dusty poems by some now-forgotten scribe
Verb (2)
carefully scribed two lines into the wood
Recent Examples on the Web
Turgay Ayer, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
Her father, Pa-Kush, held the high-status role of document scribe.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2025
Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
In a guide to Latin grammar, the margins are filled with scribes’ mundane notes, providing small clues about their everyday lives.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scribe
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Verb
Incremental change Today, hospitals are rapidly adopting AI scribes that listen during patient visits and automatically draft clinical notes, reducing paperwork and letting physicians spend more time with patients.
—Turgay Ayer, The Conversation, 11 July 2025
Her father, Pa-Kush, held the high-status role of document scribe.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 July 2025
Noun
The move doesn’t mean that the union’s scribes can suddenly start working with Emmett again, as the producer and his companies still aren’t signatories with the WGA West.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 1 July 2025
In a guide to Latin grammar, the margins are filled with scribes’ mundane notes, providing small clues about their everyday lives.
—Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for scribe
Cite this Entry
“Scribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scribe. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
scribe
1 of 2 noun1
: a scholar of the Jewish law in New Testament times
2
a
: a public secretary or clerk
b
: a person who copies manuscripts
scribe
2 of 2 verb
scribed; scribing
: to mark or make by cutting or scratching with a pointed instrument
Etymology
Noun
Middle English scribe "one of a class of scholars and copiers of the Scriptures in ancient Israel," from Latin scriba "official writer," from scribere "to write" — related to circumscribe, description, scribble, scripture, shrove tuesday
Biographical Definition
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