author

1 of 2

noun

au·​thor ˈȯ-thər 

1

: the writer of a literary work (such as a book)

a famous author

2

a

: one that originates or creates something : source

software authors

film authors

the author of this crime

b

Author : god sense 1

authorial

ȯ-ˈthȯr-ē-əl 

adjective

author

2 of 2

verb

authored; authoring; authors

transitive verb

: to be the author of : write

a writer who has authored several bestsellers

Synonyms of author

Noun

• writer

Verb

• write
• pen

Examples of author in a Sentence

Noun

The author of the article didn't check his facts.

I enjoyed the book, but I can't remember the name of the author.

She is the author of a plan for reforming the school system.

Verb

authored a new biography of Thomas Jefferson

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Earlier this year, he was seen starring opposite Maika Monroe in Reminders of Him, Universal’s adaptation of the 2022 novel from It Ends With Us author Colleen Hoover. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Aug. 2026

The report’s authors said promise-keeping, more than promise-speed, seems to drive the purchase decision overall. — Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026

Verb

Nance co-authored a research letter in JAMA Pediatrics finding that the number of states where guns were the leading cause of death for children and teens increased from zero over the period 2004 to 2008 to 24 from 2019 to 2023. — Yona Gavino, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026

More than 60% of China’s albumin market is supplied by foreign manufacturers and all of it is made from plasma collected in the US, according to a 2024 study co-authored by researchers from China’s national and Zhejiang drug inspection authorities. — Cnn Staff, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English autour, auctour, actour "originator, creator, authoritative source, writer," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French auctur, auttour, actour "originator, creator, instigator, party, authority, writer," borrowed from Latin auctōr-, auctor "principal in a sale, person entitled to take action or authorize, authoritative writer, originator, creator, agent, founder," from augēre "to increase" + -tor, agent suffix — more at eke entry 1

Note: Variants with medial -th-, as aucthour, authour, etc., become current in the sixteenth century and lead to spelling pronunciations with [θ] in the seventeenth century. The spellings are presumed to reflect association with authentic and its Latin and Greek sources, as author in the sense "the first beginner and mover of anything," as Samuel Johnson put it, is the ultimate guarantor of authenticity.

Verb

derivative of author entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Verb

1597, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing author

• co-author

Rhymes for author

• coauthor

Kids Definition

author

noun

au·​thor

ˈȯ-thər

1

: a person who creates a written work : writer

2

: one that starts or creates

author of a plan for education

author verb