noun
Common
letters
LEH-tuhz
Letters (noun) means Literature and the study of writing, especially as an academic subject; scholarly or literary knowledge. Example: “She has a longstanding interest in classics and letters.”
noun
1
Literature and the study of writing, especially as an academic subject; scholarly or literary knowledge.
"She has a longstanding interest in classics and letters."
"He was a man of letters, respected for his essays and novels."
"She studied arts and letters at university before becoming a teacher."
How to use letters
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterature and literary learning, taken as a whole.
When to use it
Formal and somewhat old-fashioned; most often seen in the phrase "a man/woman of letters."
Common pairings
a man of letters
the world of letters
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Frequently asked questions
What does “letters” mean?
The word “letters” means literature and the study of writing, especially as an academic subject; scholarly or literary knowledge. In plain terms, literature and literary learning, taken as a whole.
How do you pronounce “letters”?
“Letters” is pronounced LEH-tuhz (/ˈlɛtɚz/ in IPA).
How do you use “letters” in a sentence?
Here is “letters” used in a sentence: “She has a longstanding interest in classics and letters.”
What part of speech is “letters”?
“Letters” is a noun.
Is “letters” a common word?
“Letters” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What does 'letters' mean in 'a man of letters'?
Here letters means literature and scholarship as a whole. A man of letters, or woman of letters, is a writer or scholar deeply learned in literature and the humanities. The phrase honours someone whose life is devoted to reading, writing, and serious intellectual work.
What is the difference between 'letters' and 'literature'?
Literature usually means the body of written creative works, such as novels, poetry, and plays. Letters, in this sense, is broader and more old-fashioned, covering literature together with scholarship and learning in general, as in arts and letters. It emphasises the whole life of the mind.
What is an example of 'letters' used this way?
Phrases like arts and letters, a woman of letters, and the republic of letters all use this sense. A university might award a degree in letters, and someone celebrated in the world of letters is respected across literature and scholarship, not merely for a single book.
What is the 'republic of letters'?
The republic of letters is a historical phrase for the international community of writers, scholars, and thinkers who exchanged ideas across borders, especially in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. It pictures learning as a shared realm, a republic united by correspondence and a common love of knowledge.
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