scribe

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈskrīb How to pronounce scribe (audio)
Synonyms of scribe
1
: a member of a learned class in ancient Israel through New Testament times studying the Scriptures and serving as copyists, editors, teachers, and jurists
2
a
: an official or public secretary or clerk
b
: a copier of manuscripts
3
: writer
specifically : journalist

scribe

2 of 4

verb (1)

scribed; scribing

intransitive verb

: to work as a scribe : write

scribe

3 of 4

verb (2)

scribed; scribing

transitive verb

1
: to mark a line on by cutting or scratching with a pointed instrument
2
: to make by cutting or scratching

scribe

4 of 4

noun (2)

: scriber

Synonyms of scribe

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Noun (1)

Verb (2)

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Examples of scribe in a Sentence

Noun (1) variations between the different manuscripts attest to the fallibility of the scribes who transmitted them the scribe keeps the minutes of the club's meetings a book of dusty poems by some now-forgotten scribe Verb (2) carefully scribed two lines into the wood
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Helen Mirren plays the very real Ripley scribe in the upcoming film A Talent for Murder. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026 Socrates had the same fear about the act of writing, scribes had the same fear about Gutenberg’s printing press, and John Saxon had the same fear about the calculator. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Many workers who could not write Chinese relied on scribes to compose the letters. — ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026 Our scribes are pre-medical students who volunteer part time at the clinic to gain clinical experience, a requisite for admission to medical school. — Benjamin I. Lee, STAT, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for scribe

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Latin scriba official writer, from scribere to write; akin to Greek skariphasthai to scratch an outline

Verb (2)

probably short for describe

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (1)

1651, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1678, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1812, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of scribe was in the 13th century

Rhymes for scribe

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Browse Nearby Words

scribbly gum
scribe
Scribe
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Cite this Entry

“Scribe.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scribe. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

scribe

1 of 2 noun
ˈskrīb How to pronounce scribe (audio)
1
: a scholar of the Jewish law in New Testament times
2
a
: a public secretary or clerk
b
: a person who copies manuscripts

scribe

2 of 2 verb
scribed; scribing
: to mark or make by cutting or scratching with a pointed instrument
Etymology

Noun

Middle English scribe "one of a class of scholars and copiers of the Scriptures in ancient Israel," from Latin scriba "official writer," from scribere "to write" — related to circumscribe, description, scribble, scripture, shrove tuesday

Biographical Definition

Scribe

biographical name

ˈskrēb How to pronounce Scribe (audio)
(Augustin-) Eugène 1791–1861 French dramatist

More from Merriam-Webster on scribe

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scribe

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