A manuscript is a writtenproduced using words on paper or another surface, not spoken document, especially one that is handwrittenmade by hand with a pen, pencil, or similar tool or prepared for publicationthe act or process of making something available for people to read. It can refer to an old handwritten book or to a writer’s draft of a work before it is printed.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈmæn.jə.skrɪpt/
Easy pronunciation: MAN-yuh-script (approximate spelling).
Stress: Primary stress is on the first syllable.
This is the noun meaning a handwritten book or document, not a publication draft.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Manuscript Meaning
a document written by hand
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a handwritten book or document
Example: The museum displayed a 15th-century manuscript.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- holograph — Used for a document written entirely by hand, especially in a formal or historical context.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Manuscript
Meaning 2
a writer’s draft prepared to be published
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the form of a literary work submitted for publication
Example: She sent the manuscript to three publishers.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- ms — Common abbreviation for a literary work submitted in draft form.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Manuscript Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- holograph
a writer’s draft prepared for publication
- ms
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- People sometimes use manuscript to mean any old book, but it usually means a handwritten or draft text.
- In publishing, manuscript often refers to a draft before publication, not a printed book.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does manuscript mean?
Manuscript usually means a handwritten document or a draft of a work that has not yet been published.
What is a synonym for manuscript?
For the handwritten-document sense, a close synonym is holograph. For the publishing sense, ms is a common abbreviation.
Is a manuscript always handwritten?
Not today. The word originally referred to handwriting, but it is also commonly used for a writer’s draft prepared for publication.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-22. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.