# author

/ˈɔθɝ/ (US) · /ˈɔːθɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/author
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. writer of a book

noun · CEFR A2 · General-service

the person who wrote a specific book, article, or story.

For teachers: the individual responsible for the creation of a literary, scientific, or artistic work.

- She is the author of several popular children's books.
- The author spent three years researching the historical context of the novel before writing the first chapter.

Usage: Usually followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the work created.

Teaching tip: In academic contexts, 'author' is preferred over 'writer' for its sense of authority and ownership.

### 2. originator of an idea

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

the person who starts or causes something to happen.

For teachers: the originator, instigator, or primary cause of a plan, event, or situation.

- He was the author of the company's new success.
- Historians still debate who was the true author of the peace treaty that ended the decade-long conflict.

Usage: Often used metaphorically to describe someone who designs a complex plan or policy.

Teaching tip: This sense is more abstract and formal than the literary sense.

### 3. to write or create

verb · CEFR B2 · Academic · Formal

to write a book, report, or document.

For teachers: to be the author of a work; to write or originate a document or plan.

- The professor has authored many papers on climate change.
- The committee members collectively authored the final report, ensuring that every department's concerns were addressed.

Usage: A transitive verb that always takes a direct object.

Teaching tip: Some traditionalists dislike 'author' as a verb, but it is standard in academic and professional English.

## Examples

- She is the author of several famous novels.
- The author spent three years researching the historical events before writing the first chapter of the biography.
- While the author remains anonymous, the stylistic choices and thematic preoccupations suggest a writer deeply familiar with late nineteenth-century Parisian society.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.