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
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
That this continues after years of California officials proposing law after law to rein in the industry leaves this scribe, and many others, sputtering with rage.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Justin Kroll, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
In the seventh century BCE, a generation or so before the princess was born, that scribe, called Nabû-shuma-iddin, was pressing a reed stylus into a lump of wet clay.
—Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for scribe
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Noun
The prolific scribe has Netflix’s House of Guinness and a second run of Disney+’s A Thousand Blows incoming.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
That this continues after years of California officials proposing law after law to rein in the industry leaves this scribe, and many others, sputtering with rage.
—Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
Rabbit Hole will be penned by Dune scribe Jon Spaihts; plot details are unknown at this time.
—Justin Kroll, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2025
In the seventh century BCE, a generation or so before the princess was born, that scribe, called Nabû-shuma-iddin, was pressing a reed stylus into a lump of wet clay.
—Literary Hub, 26 Aug. 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 8 Sep. 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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