manuscript

American  

[man-yuh-skript] / ˈmæn jəˌskrɪpt /

noun

• manuscripts
  plural

1. the original text of an author's work, handwritten or now usually typed, that is submitted to a publisher.

2. any text not printed.

3. a book or document written before the invention of printing.

4. writing, as distinguished from print.

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adjective

1. handwritten or typed, not professionally printed.

manuscript British  

/ ˈmænjʊˌskrɪpt /

noun

1. a book or other document written by hand

2. the original handwritten or typed version of a book, article, etc, as submitted by an author for publication

3. 1. handwriting, as opposed to printing

   2. ( as modifier )

      a manuscript document

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• manuscriptal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• manuscripts
  plural

Etymology

Origin of manuscript

1590–1600; < Medieval Latin manūscrīptus written by hand, equivalent to Latin manū by hand (ablative of manus ) + scrīptus written; see script

Explanation

A manuscript is a handwritten work. It's still a manuscript if it's typed — if a publisher asks for your manuscript, don't send her something scrawled on notebook paper! The noun manuscript evolved from the Latin manu scriptus, meaning “written by hand.” Manu is “hand” and scriptus is “to write." It refers to old documents actually written by hand before books were made, but it can also refer to a writer's unpublished work whether it's handwritten or typed. Samuel Johnson said, “Your manuscript is both good and original, but the part that is good is not original and the part that is original is not good.” Harrumph!

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

manuscript manuscripts

Stephanie Leach, a sixth-year graduate student in Hwang's lab, contributed to the design of the project, led the experiments conducted with participants, and co-led preparation of the manuscript.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 20, 2026

A book agent, Marc Gerald, said he signed its author, Jerry Falade, about a month ago, after reading a copy of the unsolicited manuscript.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

Prosecutors say Ying brought a dummy manuscript back to the library after stealing the real one.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

A California man who swapped a library's 17th century Chinese manuscript for a fake was jailed for a year on Wednesday after admitting to stealing a major artwork.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

Robert Kane received notice that Ellet had prepared a book manuscript and that it contained transcripts of Elisha’s letters to Maggie.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

The goal is to help editors identify potentially fabricated manuscripts before they are sent to outside experts for peer review.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 16, 2026

Speaking ahead of the auction, Will Passey, a specialist in the books and manuscripts department at Sotheby's, said the "moving" letter served as "a testament to the strength" of their friendship.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Authorities did not say whether the stolen manuscripts were recovered.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 9, 2026

Ying, 39, would check the works out and return days later with dummy manuscripts.

From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026

Every morning a snowy avalanche of manuscripts swelled the dust-gray piles in the office of the Fiction Editor.

From "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath

Related Words

• article
• document
• text