coauthor

American  

[koh-aw-ther, koh-aw-] / koʊˈɔ θər, ˈkoʊˌɔ- /

noun

1. one of two or more joint authors.

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verb (used with object)

1. to write in joint authorship.

coauthor British  

/ kəʊˈɔːθə /

noun

1. a person who shares the writing of a book, article, etc, with another

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verb

1. (tr) to be the joint author of (a book, article, etc)

Etymology

Origin of coauthor

First recorded in 1860–65; co- + author

Explanation

A coauthor is someone who works with another person to write something. If three people take turns writing chapters of a novel, each of them can call herself a coauthor. You can spell the noun coauthor with or without a hyphen — co-author is also correct. Whenever it takes more than one person to write a book, the book can be said to have coauthors. And if you collaborate with a friend on a hand-written magazine, you are one of its coauthors. The word comes from author, or writer, and the prefix co, which means "together" or "mutually."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

coauthor

Núñez was coauthor of a study published in 2023 in the journal Buildings that examined a type of concrete building higher than 20 stories and built to minimum Venezuelan code requirements.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026

However, this research takes a more detailed approach by examining how specific fat storage patterns relate to neurological risk, said study coauthor Kai Liu, M.D.,

From Science Daily ● Jan. 28, 2026

Karen Manship, coauthor and Managing Director at the American Institutes for Research, noted that Montessori programs are already widespread in public education.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 1, 2026

One of those senators, Russ Feingold—the coauthor of the McCain-Feingold campaign finance law—was particularly vulnerable, as he was up for reelection that year.

From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2025

Later, Elizebeth was named as coauthor on one of them.

From "The Woman All Spies Fear" by Amy Butler Greenfield