author

AW-thur/ˈɔ.θɚ/UKAW-thuh/ˈɔː.θə(ɹ)/

Pluralauthors

Verbauthors, authoring, authored

6 meanings of author

Practice

1
writernouncountable
A person who writes a book, article, or report, or whose job is writing books.
Like the builder who first put up a house: they made it from nothing.
The author of this poem was only sixteen when she wrote it.
Both authors signed copies of their new book at the store.
UsageSay the author of a book, or a book by someone.
Note
2
write (a work)verbtransitive
To write or create a book, report, or other work.
Like a cook who makes a whole meal from scratch.
She hopes to author a children's book someday.
They author all the training guides used by the company.
UsageIn most writing, write is the simpler, safer word.
Similarwrite, compose, pen, produce, draft
3
nounfigurativelycountable
The person or thing that makes something happen or come to exist.
Like the person who lights a match and so becomes the reason a fire exists.
Some called him the author of his own bad luck.
She was the author of the whole plan from the start.
UsageOften said as the author of your own troubles.
Similararchitect, creator, originator, cause, instigator

Less common meanings

4
source (of facts)nounarchaic
A person you name as the source of what you know.
Note
5
nounobsolete
The main person who commits 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 CourtHere, authors means the main people who actually carry out a crime.
Note
6
nounUS
The first person or company that owns the copyright to a work.

Use it in a sentence

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Origin

It came through Old French from Latin auctor, from a verb meaning "to increase or originate." The letter h was added later and was not part of the original Latin word.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Author came through Old French from Latin auctor. en.wiktionary.org
Latin auctor derives from a verb meaning “to increase or originate.” en.wiktionary.org
The h was added later and was absent from the original Latin spelling. en.wiktionary.org