literary
6 synonyms and 0 antonyms for literary, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to literature, especially fiction, poetry, and other creative writing.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use literary
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From French littéraire, ultimately from Latin littera ("letter").
Full origin of literary →Frequently asked questions
What does “literary” mean?
The word “literary” means relating to literature, especially fiction, poetry, and other creative writing. In plain terms, having to do with literature, or written in a formal, artistic style.
How do you pronounce “literary”?
“Literary” is pronounced LIHT-ruh-ree (/ˈlɪt.əˌɹɛɹ.i/ in IPA).
How do you use “literary” in a sentence?
Here is “literary” used in a sentence: “She has a strong literary background, having studied English and Comparative Literature.”
What is another word for “literary”?
Words with a similar meaning to “literary” include bookly.
What part of speech is “literary”?
“Literary” is an adjective.
Where does the word “literary” come from?
The word “literary” comes from Latin. From French littéraire, ultimately from Latin littera ("letter").
Is “literary” a common word?
“Literary” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “literary” have?
“Literary” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to literature, especially fiction, poetry, and other creative writing.
What is the difference between 'literary' and 'literate'?
'Literary' relates to literature and creative writing such as fiction and poetry. 'Literate' describes a person's ability to read and write, so the two words are not interchangeable despite looking similar.
When should you use 'literary' instead of 'literal'?
Use 'literary' for anything connected to literature or formal, artistic writing. 'Literal' means taking words in their exact, basic sense, so 'literal' and 'literary' have entirely different meanings and are easily confused.
What words commonly go with 'literary'?
'Literary' frequently appears in phrases like literary work, literary criticism, literary device, literary style, and literary career. These collocations all point to the world of writing and literature.