writer

American  

[rahy-ter] / ˈraɪ tər /

noun

• writers
  plural

1. a person engaged in writing books, articles, stories, etc., especially as an occupation or profession; an author or journalist.

2. a clerk, scribe, or the like.

3. a person who commits their thoughts, ideas, etc., to writing.

   She's an expert letter writer.

4. (in a piece of writing) the author (used as a circumlocution for “I,” “me,” “my,” etc.).

   The writer wishes to state….

5. a person who writes or is able to write.

   a writer in script.

6. Stock Exchange. someone who sells options.

7. Scot. a lawyer or solicitor.

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writer British  

/ ˈraɪtə /

noun

1. a person who writes books, articles, etc, esp as an occupation

2. the person who has written something specified

3. a person who is able to write or write well

4. a scribe or clerk

5. a composer of music

6. a legal practitioner, such as a notary or solicitor

7. (in Scotland) a member of an ancient society of solicitors, now having the exclusive privilege of preparing crown writs

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• writers
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of writer

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English wrītere; see origin at write, -er ¹

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

writer writers

Meka Boyle is a writer and editor based between New York and Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026

Raman married Chandrasekaran, who by then was an up-and-coming TV writer, in 2010.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 2, 2026

In the title of his 1997 bestselling adventure tale, “Into Thin Air,” mountaineer and writer Jon Krakauer employs a double entendre so clever that its effect is extraordinary.

From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026

The Birmingham-born writer said she was "a couple of months away from a very serious breakdown" before a solicitor's reading recommendation changed the course of her life.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2026

The list could go on—the Yankee and the Cavalier, the orator and the writer, the bulldog and the greyhound.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

The controversy also reminded her of Ireland's history of literary censorship, which affected famous writers including Edna O'Brien, Samuel Beckett and John McGahern.

From Barron's ● Nov. 2, 2026

"If they're creating a new micro-drama out of something that already exists, I feel there needs to be consent for using our image and voice as well as the writers," he said.

From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026

“The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” was published in Irving’s popular collection of short works, “The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent.,” which established the author as one of the most beloved writers of his era.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 28, 2026

Times staff writers Clara Harter and James Queally contributed to this report.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 27, 2026

Of the Roman writers, Virgil stands far ahead.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

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Related Words

• author
• biographer
• columnist
• correspondent
• critic
• dramatist
• editor
• essayist
• journalist
• novelist
• poet
• reporter
• screenwriter

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