publisher
Americannoun
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a person or company whose business is the publishing of books, periodicals, engravings, computer software, etc.
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the business head of a newspaper organization or publishing house, commonly the owner or the representative of the owner.
noun
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a company or person engaged in publishing periodicals, books, music, etc
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the proprietor of a newspaper or his representative
Etymology
Origin of publisher
1425–75; late Middle English: one who proclaims publicly; see publish, -er 1
Explanation
A builder builds. A dancer dances. A publisher publishes — which is to say, oversees the printing, editing and, most importantly, the selling of books, magazines, websites, and even music. It's a matter of debate who is more important at a magazine, the editor or the publisher, but I'm sure you could get convincing arguments for either. The editor is in charge of content, while the publisher runs the business side of things and often owns the operation, too. The publisher of a newspaper is often also the owner. When a writer wants to get their book published — printed and sold — they send it to a publishing house, which may become the book's publisher.
Vocabulary lists containing publisher
Journalism
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"Dr. Seuss" by Jill Foran
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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.
A financial publisher made later-recanted claims in January accusing the platform of serving as a “laundering machine” for transnational criminals.
From Barron's • May 27, 2026
Both the Pollock and the Brancusi came from the estate of Condé Nast publisher S.I.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Polymarket has a data partnership with Dow Jones, publisher of The Wall Street Journal.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026
Allison’s publisher thinks it’s time to retire the beloved fictional character, Selena St. Cloud.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
Well known as a writer, scientist, and publisher of the Pennsylvania Gazette, he had moved to London in 1757 to lobby, first for Pennsylvania and later for Massachusetts and Georgia.
From "George Washington, Spymaster" by Thomas B. Allen
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.
