typewritten

typewritten — adjective

1. typed on a machine such as a typewriter or a computer, rather than written by ha

1.adjectiveB1
Definition

typed on a machine such as a typewriter or a computer, rather than written by hand

Example

Ada found a box of typewritten letters from her grandfather in the dusty attic.

collocation: typewritten letters

The university archive contained a single typewritten page of the poet's early work from 1948.

passive: contained a typewritten page

Common collocations
  • typewritten letter
  • typewritten document
  • typewritten page
  • typewritten manuscript
  • typewritten report
  • typewritten application
  • typewritten note
Synonyms
  • typed

    the modern everyday equivalent; 'typed' can also refer to text on a screen

  • printed

    broader meaning; covers any machine-produced text including books and newspapers

Antonyms
  • handwritten

    produced by hand with a pen or pencil rather than by a machine

Grammar Patterns

typewritten + noun

Usage Note

Often describes physical paper documents produced by a machine. The word is less common in everyday speech than 'typed,' but remains common in formal, historical, or archival contexts.

Common Mistakes

I typewritten my essay yesterday.
I typed my essay yesterday.
'typewritten' is an adjective, not the past-tense form of the verb 'type.'

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

'Typewritten,' 'typed,' 'printed,' and 'handwritten' all describe how text appears on a page, but they differ in scope and usage. 'Typed' is the everyday modern term for text produced on a keyboard — whether on a typewriter, a computer, or even a phone. 'Typewritten' is more specific and slightly formal: it usually refers to physical paper documents produced by a typewriter or computer printer, often in historical or archival contexts. 'Printed' is broader, covering text produced by any mechanical printing process, including books, newspapers, and computer printouts. 'Handwritten' is the opposite of all three, describing text created by hand with a pen or pencil. For example: 'The typewritten letter was dated 1953' versus 'She printed the email and filed it' versus 'His handwritten notes were difficult to read.'

typedprintedhandwritten ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Etymology

GreekLatinOld EnglishEnglish

A compound of 'type' (from Latin 'typus' via Greek 'τύπος,' meaning a mould or figure) and 'written' (the past participle of 'write,' from Old English 'writan,' meaning to scratch or inscribe). The word emerged in the late 19th century alongside the invention of the typewriter, originally referring exclusively to text produced by that machine, and later expanded to include computer-printed text.