# author

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈɔː.θə(ɹ)/ · frequency rank #1,179

## Definitions
1. The originator or creator of a work, especially of a literary composition; or, one of the creators of a collaborative work.
2. The initial owner of the copyright to a work, especially a work made for hire or a work of corporate authorship.
3. Someone who writes books for a living.
4. Principal; the primary participant in a crime.
5. One's authority for something: an informant.
6. The creator or cause of anything.

## Etymology
From Middle English auctour, from Anglo-Norman autour, from Old French autor, from Latin auctor, from augeō (“to increase, originate”). The h, also found in Middle French autheur, is unetymological as there is no h in the original Latin spelling. The OED attributes the h to contamination by authentic. Doublet of auteur.

## Easily confused with
- **auto** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/author-vs-auto)
- **authors** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/author-vs-authors)
- **auth** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/auth-vs-author)
- **actor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/actor-vs-author)
- **Astor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/astor-vs-author)
- **Athos** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/athos-vs-author)
- **altho** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/altho-vs-author)
- **abhor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/abhor-vs-author)
- **Arthur** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/arthur-vs-author)
- **anchor** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/anchor-vs-author)
- **aether** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aether-vs-author)

## Common misspellings (8)
`atuhor`, `auhtor`, `authhor`, `authorr`, `authro`, `autohr`, `autthor`, `uathor`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/author