Word

scrivener

Meaning

A scrivener is a person whose work is copying or writing documents, including formal documents such as contracts or wills.

Meanings of “scrivener”

  1. A professional copyist or writer of documents.12

    Tone
    A countable noun. Cambridge labels the general sense old use.
    Where you’ll see it
    The general or historical sense. Cambridge describes someone whose job involved writing or dealing with written documents. Merriam-Webster gives professional or public copyist or writer.

    Examples

    • Original illustrative example: The merchant hired a scrivener to copy the letter.
    • Original illustrative example: The archive holds documents copied by a local scrivener.

    Examples are written for this site to show typical use. They are not quotes.

Usage notes

  • What does scrivener mean? In a historical passage, it usually describes someone whose work involved writing or copying documents. In a legal context, it can refer specifically to a document drafter.
  • Merriam-Webster also records notary public as a separate sense. That does not mean every copyist or document drafter is authorized to act as a notary. Cornell defines a notary public as a person authorized by law to perform duties such as certifying documents and signatures. Do not infer a person's legal authorization from the word scrivener alone.
  • This entry explains the word, not the legal effect of a document or how to resolve a drafting mistake. All example sentences are original illustrations, not quotations.

Origin

Origin not verified.

Sources

  1. scrivener, Cambridge Dictionary

    dictionary.cambridge.orgAccessed Back to text

    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/scrivener

  2. scrivener, Merriam-Webster

    merriam-webster.comAccessed Back to text

    https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scrivener

  3. scrivener, Cornell Legal Information Institute, Wex

    law.cornell.eduAccessed Back to text

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/scrivener

  4. notary public, Cornell Legal Information Institute, Wex

    law.cornell.eduAccessed

    https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/notary_public