manuscript

American  

[man-yuh-skript] / ˈmæn yəˌskrɪpt /

noun

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

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 It refers to old documents actually written by hand before books were made, but it can also refer to a writer's unpublished work whether it's handwritten or typed.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

The book’s editor, Gina Iaquinta, doesn’t speak Spanish, but when she read the manuscript for the first time, she says the writing made her feel like she did.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026

Nikki wants to write full-time and believes that a lack of love in her life is stifling her manuscript.

From Salon • Jun. 4, 2026

We see a handsome bound manuscript from Reims from the 1260s, the ghost of an erased architectural drawing visible beneath the calligraphy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 27, 2026

According to the researchers, the organization was not involved in collecting or analyzing the data and did not participate in the publication process, aside from reviewing a draft of the manuscript before submission.

From Science Daily • May 22, 2026

Galileo delivered the manuscript to Riccardi in Rome in May 1630, but in June he had to return home because an outbreak of plague spreading south into Italy threatened to reach Florence and disrupt communications.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin

Related Words

• article
• document
• text