Writer

How to spell writer

6 letters · 2 syllables

How to pronounce writer

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does writer mean?

1. nounA person who writes books, articles, or other texts, especially as an occupation.

Writer in a sentence

• The writer spent two years researching the novel.

• As a freelance writer, she set her own deadlines.

Where does writer come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

This word comes from the Old English verb writan, which meant 'to scratch, draw, or inscribe' before it settled into the modern sense of forming letters. That earlier meaning reflects how the very first writing was scored into wood, bone, or stone with a sharp point. The initial 'w' was once fully pronounced in Old English, but over the centuries English speakers stopped sounding it while spelling kept the letter, which is exactly why writer begins with a silent 'w' that trips people up. The agent suffix '-er', also native Germanic, simply turns the verb into 'one who writes'. Related survivals of the same root include 'writ' (a formal written legal order) and 'written', all preserving that stubborn silent opening letter.

How the word is built

• writ (from Old English writan: to write, scratch, draw)
• -er (agent suffix: one who does)