Dictionary

author en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈoː.θə/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /ˈɔː.θə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɔ.θɚ/ (General-American) without the cot–caught merger
• [ˈɔ.θɚ] ~ [ˈɔ.θɹ̩] (General-American) without the cot–caught merger
• /ˈɑ.θɚ/ ~ /ˈɒ.θɚ/ (Canada, US, cot-caught-merger)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewg-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₂owg-éye-ti Proto-Italic *augejō Proto-Italic *augeō Latin augeō Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin auctor Anglo-Norman autourbor. Middle English auctour English author From Middle English auctour, from Anglo-Norman autour, from Old French autor, from Latin auctor, from augeō (“to increase, originate”). The h, also found in Middle French autheur, is unetymological as there is no h in the original Latin spelling. The OED attributes the h to contamination by authentic. Doublet of auteur.

Meanings

1. The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition; or, one of the creators of a collaborative work.
   • [Jean] Twenge […] isn’t necessarily a household name like her sometimes collaborator Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and the author of the megahit “The Anxious Generation,” which has spent 75 weeks hovering near the top of the New York Times best-seller list. 2025 September 6, Catherine Pearson, “She Started the Debate About Kids and Phones. Now She Wants to End It.”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 06 Sep 2025:
   • The copyright of any original writing belongs initially and properly to its author.
   • This paper has three authors.
   • Have you read any Corinthian authors?
   • The chief glory of every people arises from its authors. 1755 April 15, Samuel Johnson, “Preface”, in A Dictionary of the English Language: […], volume I (A–K), London: […] J[ohn] and P[aul] Knapton; […], →OCLC:
   • Eternal King; thee, Author of all being. 1667, John Milton, “Book III”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
   • During the whole time of his abode in the university he generally spent thirteen hours of the day in study; by which assiduity besides an exact dispatch of the whole course of philosophy, he read over in a manner all classic authors that are extant[…] 1661, John Fell, The Life of the most learned, reverend and pious Dr. H. Hammond:
   • "The cranium is clearly plesiomorphic in overall form, presenting primitive traits shared by earlier hominins," the authors wrote. 2025 September 27, Julia Jacobo, “Million-year-old skull could rewrite timeline of human origin, researchers say”, in ABC News, archived from the original on 14 Feb 2026:
2. (US) The initial owner of the copyright to a work, especially a work made for hire or a work of corporate authorship.
   • The author named on the copyright registration for the Android robot is Google Inc.
3. Someone who writes books for a living.
4. (obsolete, qualifier:criminal law) Principal; the primary participant in a crime.
   • Accomplices of a crime or an offence shall incur the same punishment as the authors of such a crime or offence, except when the law will have disposed otherwise. 1894, Franco-Siamese Mixed Court, The Case of Kieng Chek (Kham Muon) before the Franco-Siamese Mixed Court, Bangkok: n.p., page 4:
   • We hear […]of fratricidal murders, and stern reprisals on their authors. 1879, F. D. Morice, Pindar, chapter 10, page 158:
5. (archaic) One's authority for something: an informant.
   • 'Wanting the hat,' continues my author, Kirstie, whom I but haltingly follow, for she told this tale like one inspired, 'wanting guns, for there wasna twa grains o' pouder in the house, wi' nae mair weepons than their sticks into their hands, the fower o' them took the road. a. 1895 (date written), Robert Louis Stevenson, “Winter on the Moors: 3. A Border Family.”, in S[idney] C[olvin], editor, Weir of Hermiston: An Unfinished Romance, London: Chatto and Windus […], published 1896, →OCLC, page 122:
   • Let me inform you en passant, Ladies, that those Villains the Heathens, as my Authors tell me, (and I thought it wou'd^([sic]) not be amiss to communicate such a nice Observation to this House) used to call our Saviour Chrestus, and not Christus, by way of Contempt and Derision […] 1699, Seven new Colloquies translated out of Erasmus:
6. (figuratively) The creator or cause of anything.
   • The other, standing nearly head-on toward the hunters, had not proved so good a mark, and though every spear struck not one entered the great heart. For a moment the huge bull stood trumpeting in rage and pain, casting about with its little eyes for the author of its hurt. 1913 June–December, Edgar Rice Burroughs, The Return of Tarzan, New York, N.Y.: A[lexander] C[aldwell] McClurg, published March 1915, →OCLC, page 132:

Forms

Deriveds

AuthorTube · authorcraft · overauthor · authorly · co-author · authorling · corresponding author · reauthor · author's plural · death of the author · authorial · authorer · author's we · multiauthor · authordom · authoress · hyperauthor · authorish · authorless · author mill · authorism · nonauthor · authress · authorlike · author of life · Suethor · coauthor · author's edition · authorhood

Relateds

authorisation · authorization · authorship · auteur · authority

Synonyms

bookwright (creator of a work) · creator (creator of a work) · subcreator (creator of a work) · writer (creator of a work) · fabulator (creator of a work) · artist (creator of a work)

Translations (185)

ru творе́ц (originator or creator of a work) · mn зохиолч (originator or creator of a work) · yi ליטעראַט (originator or creator of a work) · yi מחבר (originator or creator of a work) · te గ్రంథకారుడు (originator or creator of a work) · cy awdur (originator or creator of a work) · ta நூலாசிரியர் (originator or creator of a work) · zza nuskar (originator or creator of a work) · mr लेखिका (originator or creator of a work) · de Verfasser (originator or creator of a work) · fr auteur (originator or creator of a work) · ext utol (originator or creator of a work) · te రచయిత (originator or creator of a work) · tg нависанда (originator or creator of a work) · nl schrijfster (originator or creator of a work) · pdt Schreftstala (originator or creator of a work) · fa پدیدآورنده (originator or creator of a work) · ht otè (originator or creator of a work) · sw mwandishi (originator or creator of a work) · ru созда́тель (originator or creator of a work) · yi פֿאַרפֿאַסער (originator or creator of a work) · et autor (originator or creator of a work) · izh tekijä (originator or creator of a work) · ko 작자 (originator or creator of a work) · de Schriftstellerin (originator or creator of a work) · yi שרײַבער (originator or creator of a work) · te గ్రంథకర్త (originator or creator of a work) · izh avtora (originator or creator of a work) · kmr daner (originator or creator of a work) · an autor (originator or creator of a work) · cs autorka (originator or creator of a work) · mn зохиогч (originator or creator of a work) · el δημιουργός (originator or creator of a work) · lb Auteur (originator or creator of a work) · ga údar (originator or creator of a work) · nl auteur (originator or creator of a work) · bn লেখক (originator or creator of a work) · bg а́втор (originator or creator of a work) · es autor (originator or creator of a work) · hy հեղինակ (originator or creator of a work) · bg творе́ц (originator or creator of a work) · cs autor (originator or creator of a work) · ru а́втор (originator or creator of a work) · be а́ўтарка (originator or creator of a work) · is rithöfundur (originator or creator of a work) · tg муаллиф (originator or creator of a work) · mr लेखक (originator or creator of a work) · sl avtorica (originator or creator of a work) · ko 저자 (originator or creator of a work) · ca autora (originator or creator of a work) · cy awdures (originator or creator of a work) · zza nusger (originator or creator of a work) · fi kirjoittaja (originator or creator of a work) · ko 필자 (originator or creator of a work) · fa مؤلف (originator or creator of a work) · ast autor (originator or creator of a work) · hu kiötlő (originator or creator of a work) · dsb awtorka (originator or creator of a work) · az müəllif (originator or creator of a work) · lad autór (originator or creator of a work) · uz muallif (originator or creator of a work) · uk а́втор (originator or creator of a work) · oc autor (originator or creator of a work) · te రచయిత్రి (originator or creator of a work) · ky автор (originator or creator of a work) · hu szerző (originator or creator of a work) · ar مُصَنِّف (originator or creator of a work) · es escritor (originator or creator of a work) · sh àutor (originator or creator of a work) · be а́ўтар (originator or creator of a work) · br aozer (originator or creator of a work) · tk ýazyjy (originator or creator of a work) · de Autorin (originator or creator of a work) · ur مصنفہ (originator or creator of a work) · fr auteure (originator or creator of a work) · sh àutorica (originator or creator of a work) · he מְחַבֵּר (originator or creator of a work) · cmn 作者 (originator or creator of a work) · uz yozuvchi (originator or creator of a work) · sq autore (originator or creator of a work) · yi אויטאָר (originator or creator of a work) · mhr серышоза (originator or creator of a work) · lt autorė (originator or creator of a work) · hu szerzőnő (originator or creator of a work) · fo høvundur (originator or creator of a work) · hu létrehozó (originator or creator of a work) · he יוֹצֵר (originator or creator of a work) · km គន្ថការ (originator or creator of a work) · gu લેખક (originator or creator of a work) · mk авторка (originator or creator of a work) · sv upphovsman (originator or creator of a work) · sq autor (originator or creator of a work) · de Schriftsteller (originator or creator of a work) · ug مۇئەللىپ (originator or creator of a work) · pt autor (originator or creator of a work) · vo lautan (originator or creator of a work) · tk awtor (originator or creator of a work) · tr müellif (originator or creator of a work) · ro autor (originator or creator of a work) · cmn 作家 (originator or creator of a work) · hi प्रणेता (originator or creator of a work) · hu alkotó (originator or creator of a work) · es escritora (originator or creator of a work) · ro autoare (originator or creator of a work) · pl autor (originator or creator of a work) · id pengarang (originator or creator of a work) · fo rithøvundur (originator or creator of a work) · mk автор (originator or creator of a work) · it autore (originator or creator of a work) · sk autorka (originator or creator of a work) · ce яздархо (originator or creator of a work) · lo ນັກປະພັນ (originator or creator of a work) · ja 作者 (originator or creator of a work) · fr autrice (originator or creator of a work) · ky жазуучу (originator or creator of a work) · hu kezdeményező (originator or creator of a work) · kk автор (originator or creator of a work) · sl avtor (originator or creator of a work) · dsb awtor (originator or creator of a work) · hu kiagyaló (originator or creator of a work) · ja 作家 (originator or creator of a work) · th นักประพันธ์ (originator or creator of a work) · de Autor (originator or creator of a work) · he סוֹפֵר (originator or creator of a work) · az avtor (originator or creator of a work) · tg мусанниф (originator or creator of a work) · it autrice (originator or creator of a work) · hi लेखिका (originator or creator of a work) · uz avtor (originator or creator of a work) · ja 筆者 (originator or creator of a work) · grc ἀρχηγέτης (originator or creator of a work) · la repertor (originator or creator of a work) · nn forfattar (originator or creator of a work) · eo verkinto (originator or creator of a work) · eo aŭtoro (originator or creator of a work) · fi tekijä (originator or creator of a work) · sh а̀уторица (originator or creator of a work) · gd ùghdar (originator or creator of a work) · es autora (originator or creator of a work) · de Verfasserin (originator or creator of a work) · an autora (originator or creator of a work) · ur مصنف (originator or creator of a work) · ckt тэйкыткуԓьын (originator or creator of a work) · yi מעכאַבער (originator or creator of a work) · th นักเขียน (originator or creator of a work) · yi פֿעדערניק (originator or creator of a work) · lv autore (originator or creator of a work) · bn স্রষ্টা (originator or creator of a work) · my စာရေးဆရာ (originator or creator of a work) · ko 글쓴이 (originator or creator of a work) · ja 作成者 (originator or creator of a work) · gl autor (originator or creator of a work) · ug ئاساسچى (originator or creator of a work) · nl schrijver (originator or creator of a work) · yi שריפֿטשטעלער (originator or creator of a work) · ko 지은이 (originator or creator of a work) · ar مُؤَلِّف (originator or creator of a work) · sv författare (originator or creator of a work) · sh а̀утор (originator or creator of a work) · tr yazar (originator or creator of a work) · kk жазушы (originator or creator of a work) · ko 작가 (originator or creator of a work) · ja 著者 (originator or creator of a work) · eu egile (originator or creator of a work) · sk autor (originator or creator of a work) · la auctor (originator or creator of a work) · za bouxsij (originator or creator of a work) · nb forfatter (originator or creator of a work) · da forfatter (originator or creator of a work) · hi लेखक (originator or creator of a work) · lv autors (originator or creator of a work) · ka ავტორი (originator or creator of a work) · ug ئاپتور (originator or creator of a work) · lt autorius (originator or creator of a work) · mhr автор (originator or creator of a work) · vi tác giả (originator or creator of a work) · ca autor (originator or creator of a work) · uk а́вторка (originator or creator of a work) · ta படைப்பாளர் (originator or creator of a work) · th ผู้เขียน (originator or creator of a work) · is höfundur (originator or creator of a work) · yi וואָרטקינסטלער (originator or creator of a work) · te కర్త (originator or creator of a work) · pl autorka (originator or creator of a work) · bg а́вторка (originator or creator of a work)

author en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈoː.θə/ (Australia, New-Zealand)
• /ˈɔː.θə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈɔ.θɚ/ (General-American) without the cot–caught merger
• [ˈɔ.θɚ] ~ [ˈɔ.θɹ̩] (General-American) without the cot–caught merger
• /ˈɑ.θɚ/ ~ /ˈɒ.θɚ/ (Canada, US, cot-caught-merger)

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ewg-der. Proto-Indo-European *h₂owg-éye-ti Proto-Italic *augejō Proto-Italic *augeō Latin augeō Proto-Indo-European *-tōr Proto-Italic *-tōr Latin -tor Latin auctor Anglo-Norman autourbor. Middle English auctour English author From Middle English auctour, from Anglo-Norman autour, from Old French autor, from Latin auctor, from augeō (“to increase, originate”). The h, also found in Middle French autheur, is unetymological as there is no h in the original Latin spelling. The OED attributes the h to contamination by authentic. Doublet of auteur.

Meanings

1. (US, proscribed, sometimes) To create a work as its author.

Forms

Deriveds

authorable

Translations (30)

ro scrie (to create a work as its author) · el συγγράφω (to create a work as its author) · hu kezdeményez (to create a work as its author) · hu ír (to create a work as its author) · hu alkot (to create a work as its author) · fr écrire (to create a work as its author) · sk vytvoriť (to create a work as its author) · ro crea (to create a work as its author) · eo verki (to create a work as its author) · fi luoda (to create a work as its author) · fi tehdä (to create a work as its author) · ar أَلَّفَ (to create a work as its author) · fr créer (to create a work as its author) · cy awduro (to create a work as its author) · hu szerez (to create a work as its author) · io skriptar (to create a work as its author) · it creare (to create a work as its author) · sv författa (to create a work as its author) · sk napísať (to create a work as its author) · ja 著す (to create a work as its author) · da forfatte (to create a work as its author) · es escribir (to create a work as its author) · eo aŭtori (to create a work as its author) · fi kirjoittaa (to create a work as its author) · sk písať (to create a work as its author) · nl schrijven (to create a work as its author) · bg създавам (to create a work as its author) · hu szerzője (to create a work as its author) · bg творя (to create a work as its author) · sk tvoriť (to create a work as its author)