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.

---

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

---

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 It refers to old documents actually written by hand before books were made, but it can also refer to a writer's unpublished work whether it's handwritten or typed.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

“Almost every printed or manuscript copy of the Declaration produced in 1776 varies in format, type size, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The Manchester City striker, who is his country's all-time top scorer with 55 goals in 48 games, has donated a rare 16th-Century manuscript of Viking sagas to the part of Norway where he grew up.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

The AGA did not play any role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

From Science Daily • Mar. 7, 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

According to an introductory note, dated January 1998, the manuscript was compiled by Anna Marie Jefferson, the great-great-grandniece of Mary Lewis.

From "Killers of the Flower Moon" by David Grann

Related Words

• article
• document
• text