एखाद्या विचारप्रधान विषयावर लिखाण करणाऱ्या किंवा कथा, कादंबऱ्या, कविता, नाटके, पटकथा इत्यादी प्रकारांतील कल्पनाप्रधान साहित्यकृती लिहिणाऱ्या व्यक्तीस लेखक असे म्हणतात.

A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles, genres and techniques to communicate ideas, to inspire feelings and emotions, or to entertain. Writers may develop different forms of writing such as novels, short stories, monographs, travelogues, plays, screenplays, teleplays, songs, and essays as well as reports, educational material, and news articles that may be of interest to the general public. Writers' works are nowadays published across a wide range of media. Skilled writers who are able to use language to express ideas well, often contribute significantly to the cultural content of a society.