authorship

noun

au·​thor·​ship ˈȯ-thər-ˌship How to pronounce authorship (audio)
1
: the profession of writing
2
: the source (such as the author) of a piece of writing, music, or art
3
: the state or act of writing, creating, or causing

Examples of authorship in a Sentence

His first attempt at authorship failed.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The band wrote lyrics by passing around a sheet of paper, eluding any sense of individual authorship. Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 30 May 2025 Putting his name in the title doesn’t help matters either, suggesting a self-seriousness and pride of authorship that haven’t been earned. Will Leitch, Vulture, 27 May 2025 Double down on human authorship: Don’t outsource your voice to a model. Jason Snyder, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 Those arguing for the latter note that prior to his Project 2025 authorship, Carr had rarely sounded many prosecutorial hard-right notes. Steven Zeitchik, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for authorship

Word History

Etymology

author entry 1 + -ship

First Known Use

1710, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of authorship was in 1710

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Authorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authorship. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

authorship

noun
au·​thor·​ship ˈȯ-thər-ˌship How to pronounce authorship (audio)
1
: writing as an occupation
2
: the origin especially of a written work

More from Merriam-Webster on authorship

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