writer
Pluralwriters
- 1A person who writes books, stories, or other texts.
Like a painter who makes pictures, but with words instead of paint.
My favorite writer just published a new book.
She wants to be a writer when she grows up.
UsageIt can mean anyone who writes a lot, like a letter writer.
Similarauthor, scribe, wordsmith
Note
- 2
- 3A person who sells an option and must meet its terms if the buyer chooses to use it.
Like someone who promises to sell you something later for a set price, and gets a little money now for the promise.
The option writer collected a small fee from the buyer.
As the writer, she had to sell the shares when the buyer chose to exercise.
UsagePeople say call writer or put writer.
Note
Less common meanings
- 4A person who makes graffiti art on walls and other surfaces.
Like a painter, but they use spray cans on city walls instead of brushes on paper.
The writer spray-painted a huge mural under the bridge.
Local writers covered the old train cars in bright tags.
Similartagger
Note
- 5A US Navy petty officer who kept the ship's crew lists and other record books.
- 6A lawyer who does everyday legal work in small Scottish towns.
- 7A junior clerk for the East India Company who later rose to a higher trading post.
Practice
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Origin
From Old English wrītere, meaning a writer, scribe, or copyist. It comes from the verb write plus -er.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- Writer comes from Old English wrītere, meaning a writer, scribe, or copyist. en.wiktionary.org
- The word derives from the verb write plus the agent suffix -er, historically Old English wrītan + -ere. en.wiktionary.org