ghostwrite

verb

ghost·​write ˈgōs(t)-ˌrīt How to pronounce ghostwrite (audio)
ghostwrote ˈgōs(t)-ˌrōt How to pronounce ghostwrite (audio) ; ghostwritten ˈgōs(t)-ˌri-tᵊn How to pronounce ghostwrite (audio)

intransitive verb

: to write for and in the name of another

transitive verb

: to write (a speech, a book, etc.) for another who is the presumed or credited author
ghostwriter noun

Examples of ghostwrite in a Sentence

She was hired to ghostwrite the mayor's autobiography.
Recent Examples on the Web Bane, who has ghostwritten everything from celebrity memoirs to New York Times bestsellers, will be coming out with her debut novel, Difficult Girls, from Penguin Random House in summer 2025 — and PEOPLE can exclusively reveal the cover. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024 Now a ghostwriter who is struggling financially in adulthood, Olivia becomes desperate enough to take on a harrowing assignment: ghostwriting her father’s final book. Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 4 Oct. 2024 Many have speculated for years that Rakim ghostwrote his verses, but that urban legend was put to rest in a recent moment between the pair. Angel Diaz, Billboard, 25 July 2024 He was also convicted of taking actions that benefited Egypt's government in exchange for bribes, including providing details on personnel at the U.S. embassy in Cairo and ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators regarding lifting a hold on military aid to Egypt. Mike Catalini and Mary Clare Jalonick The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 24 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for ghostwrite 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ghostwrite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

back-formation from ghostwriter

First Known Use

1927, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of ghostwrite was in 1927

Dictionary Entries Near ghostwrite

Cite this Entry

“Ghostwrite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghostwrite. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

ghostwrite

verb
ghost·​write ˈgō-ˌstrīt How to pronounce ghostwrite (audio)
ghostwrote -ˌstrōt How to pronounce ghostwrite (audio) ; ghostwritten -ˌstrit-ᵊn How to pronounce ghostwrite (audio) ; ghostwriting
-ˌstrīt-iŋ
: to write for and in the name of another
ghostwriter noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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