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

• 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; script

Example Sentences

Licence re-examined the chronicle, which survives today in nine manuscript editions, alongside other 11th Century sources, to correct an error he said was popularised by the Victorians.

From BBC • Mar. 21, 2026

The funding organizations had no involvement in the study design, data collection, analysis, manuscript preparation, or the decision to publish.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2026

One anonymous peer reviewer on the manuscript had a generally positive review, but asked: How strong is this case, historically?

From Slate • Mar. 2, 2026

Once, to be sure that I got a story right, I shared an excerpt of my book manuscript with Greenspan.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

“But it had to be done. I certainly can’t go publicizing that Poe manuscript if Griswold’s still around. As it stands now, nobody knows it exists. It can be my discovery. Well...”

From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Related Words

• article
• document
• text