manuscript

1 of 2

adjective

man·​u·​script ˈman-yə-ˌskript 

: written by hand or typed

manuscript letters

manuscript poems

manuscript

2 of 2

noun

1

: a written or typewritten composition or document as distinguished from a printed copy

also : a document submitted for publication

The library owns the author's original manuscript.

2

: writing as opposed to print

Synonyms

Noun

• calligraphy
• handwriting
• longhand
• penmanship
• script

Examples of manuscript in a Sentence

Noun

The library owns the author's original manuscript.

a copy of the composer's manuscript

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

More research, more manuscript drafting, more emails. —R29 Team, refinery29.com, 2 Oct. 2024

This is not the first biography about poet, essayist, and activist Audre Lorde, but fellow poet Alexis Pauline Gumbs is among the first researchers able to delve into Lorde's manuscript archives. —Theara Coleman, theweek, 5 Aug. 2024

Noun

In 2017, manuscripts, personal letters and hundreds of other documents from founding father Alexander Hamilton’s desk sold for a total of $2.6 million at Sotheby’s in New York, according to the auction house. —Jack Guy, CNN, 5 Nov. 2024

Pages from Breton’s original handwritten manuscript are also on display, thanks to a loan from the French national library. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin manu scriptus

First Known Use

Adjective

1597, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1571, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing manuscript

• in manuscript

Kids Definition

manuscript

1 of 2 adjective

manu·​script

ˈman-yə-ˌskript

: written by hand or typed

manuscript letters

manuscript

2 of 2 noun

1

: a written or typewritten composition or document

2

: writing as opposed to print