publisher
Americannoun
-
a person or company whose business is the publishing of books, periodicals, engravings, computer software, etc.
-
the business head of a newspaper organization or publishing house, commonly the owner or the representative of the owner.
noun
-
a company or person engaged in publishing periodicals, books, music, etc
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
ESL Library Vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Dr. Seuss" by Jill Foran
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Richard Jones, co-founder and publisher for Tangent Books in Bristol, said hardback brings huge financial value to the industry.
From BBC • May 24, 2026
The games developer and publisher suffers from "a cost base that is still high, an irregular release calendar and a very strong dependence on a few historic franchises" such as "Assassin's Creed", he added.
From Barron's • May 21, 2026
“I tried Diet Coke a few times to much disgust,” Christina Ward, a writer, publisher and Coke Zero loyalist based in Milwaukee, wrote in an email.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026
The title exceeded expectations by driving high six-figure revenue in its first three months, its publisher Christian Bryant said.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026
Osborne grew up in a wealthy household in Auburn, and, after attending prep school and Harvard, became mayor of Auburn, a newspaper publisher, and a manufacturer.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
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.
