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.
On the surface, the issue is authorship. — Literary Hub, 26 June 2026 Pacala went so far as to offer Mottershead co-authorship, at one point placing his name at the top of the paper. — Maddie Stone, ProPublica, 25 June 2026 For George, the project is ultimately about authorship in the AI era. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 15 June 2026 Now that it has been unrolled, efforts to determine the authorship of the paper is underway. — Kerry Breen, CBS News, 26 June 2026 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

Phrases Containing authorship

Rhymes for authorship

See All Rhymes for authorship

Browse Nearby Words

author number
authorship
autism
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Authorship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authorship. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

Nglish: Translation of authorship for Spanish Speakers

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