authorship

American  

[aw-ther-ship] / ˈɔ θərˌʃɪp /

noun

1. origin, especially with reference to an author, creator, producer, etc., of a work.

   establishing the authorship of early medieval manuscripts.

2. the occupation or career of writing books, articles, etc.

---

authorship British  

/ ˈɔːθəˌʃɪp /

noun

1. the origin or originator of a written work, plan, etc

   a book of unknown authorship

2. the profession of writing books

---

Etymology

Origin of authorship

First recorded in 1700–10; author + -ship

Explanation

If you write something, you are engaged in authorship. If you want a fancy way of asking "Who wrote that letter?" — try, "Who is responsible for the authorship of that letter?" Fancy, indeed! Authorship can refer to anything, not just the creation of written text; you can have authorship of a new idea, a new cocktail, a new fashion style — anything. And just as doctors practice medicine, or architects architecture, so writers practice authorship; in other words, authorship also means the actual act of authoring or writing.

Example Sentences

He responded that “the academic standards for authorship are well-established and well-known. My involvement here does not even come close to meeting those standards.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a former president of the European Council who has worked to restore Poland's relationship with Brussels, claims authorship over SAFE.

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

And what works for me is really being given authorship.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2025

Higher education institutions run essays through programmes such as Turnitin, which are designed to detect plagiarism and false authorship.

From BBC • Dec. 16, 2025

His lasting fame, indeed immortality, derived from his authorship of the Declaration of Independence in June of 1776, but few Americans knew about that role in 1790.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis