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noun B1 Intermediate Common

publisher

PUHB-lihsh

Publisher (noun) means a person or company whose business is producing and distributing books, magazines, or other written material. Example: “Her manuscript was rejected by six publishers before it finally sold.”

noun
1
A person or company whose business is producing and distributing books, magazines, or other written material.
"Her manuscript was rejected by six publishers before it finally sold."
"The publisher printed a second run after the book sold out."
2
In computing, a program or component that broadcasts data or events to others (subscribers) that are set up to receive them.
"In the messaging system, the publisher sends updates to every subscribed client."

How to use publisher

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe company (or system) that puts the work out into the world.

Common pairings
book publisher self-publisher publisher and subscriber

Word forms

publishers plural

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Fill the gap

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Her manuscript was rejected by six _____ before it finally sold.

Etymology

From publish plus the agent suffix -er.

press publishing house imprint issuer distributor

Related words

Rhymes for publisher

See all rhymes for publisher →

Frequently asked questions

What does “publisher” mean?

The word “publisher” means a person or company whose business is producing and distributing books, magazines, or other written material. In plain terms, the company (or system) that puts the work out into the world.

How do you pronounce “publisher”?

“Publisher” is pronounced PUHB-lihsh (/ˈpʌblɪʃɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “publisher” in a sentence?

Here is “publisher” used in a sentence: “Her manuscript was rejected by six publishers before it finally sold.”

What part of speech is “publisher”?

“Publisher” is a noun.

Is “publisher” a common word?

“Publisher” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “publisher” have?

“Publisher” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a person or company whose business is producing and distributing books, magazines, or other written material.

What is the difference between a publisher and an author?

An author is the person who writes a book or article, while a publisher is the company or person that produces and distributes it to readers. The author creates the content and the publisher handles editing, printing, marketing, and sales.

What is the difference between a publisher and a printer?

A publisher decides which works to produce, funds them, and manages their distribution and sale. A printer only physically reproduces the pages, so a publisher may hire a printer but a printer does not choose or own the content.

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