author
Americannoun
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a person who writes a novel, poem, essay, etc.; the composer of a literary work, as distinguished from a compiler, translator, editor, or copyist.
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the literary production or productions of a writer.
to find a passage in an author.
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the maker of anything; creator; originator.
the author of a new tax plan.
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Computers. the writer of a software program, especially a hypertext or multimedia application.
verb (used with object)
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to write; be the author of.
He authored a history of the Civil War.
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to originate; create a design for.
She authored a new system for teaching chemistry.
noun
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a person who composes a book, article, or other written work
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a person who writes books as a profession; writer
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the writings of such a person
reviewing a postwar author
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an originator or creator
the author of this plan
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has authoredperfect 3rd person singular
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have authoredperfect
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have been authoringperfect progressive
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has been authoringperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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authorssingular 3rd person
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is authoringprogressive 3rd person singular
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am authoringprogressive 1st person singular
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are authoringprogressive
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authoringparticiple
Past
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had authoredperfect
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had been authoringperfect progressive
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were authoringprogressive plural
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authoredsimple
-
authoredparticiple
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was authoringprogressive singular
Future
Etymology
Origin of author
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English auct(h)or, from Latin auctor “founder, originator, writer,” equivalent to aug(ēre) “to increase” ( cf. augment) + -tor -tor; replacing Middle English auto(u)r, from Anglo-French; Old French autor, from Latin, as above
Explanation
An author is a person who writes books or articles, usually for money. It can also refer to the person responsible for something, like the author of a plan to overthrow the student government. Author comes from the Latin word auctorem, meaning "founder, master, leader." Bow down to the author! Well, no need for that, just make sure the author gets credit. Author usually refers to a professional writer. In fact, author can be used interchangeably with the word writer. But author packs a little more punch — an author is involved in the creation of the work and generating the ideas behind it; strictly speaking, a writer could just execute the written product.
Vocabulary lists containing author
The SAT: Language of the Test, List 1
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PARCC: Language of the Test (Grade7)
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Book Words for Book Worms
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Lithgow won best performance by an actor in a leading role in a play for his portrayal of the controversial, beloved British author Roald Dahl in Mark Rosenblatt’s poignant drama “Giant,” directed by Nicholas Hytner.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
Its author, former minister Alan Milburn, warned of a potential "lost generation".
From BBC • Jun. 7, 2026
The author rescues her from near-historical oblivion, portraying a woman of intense piety, “even more devout than her mother-in-law.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026
"This was surprising," said Seung Gyo Jeong, first author of the study and a researcher in Jalan's group.
From Science Daily • Jun. 6, 2026
The author writes that he is a Boricua living in the United States.
From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
