literary
LIHT-ruh-ree
Literary (adj) means relating to literature, especially fiction, poetry, and other creative writing. Example: “She has a strong literary background, having studied English and Comparative Literature.”
adj
1
Relating to literature, especially fiction, poetry, and other creative writing.
"She has a strong literary background, having studied English and Comparative Literature."
"The literary prize is awarded each year to an outstanding new novel."
"He edits a small literary magazine that publishes poems and short stories."
2
Suited to formal or artistic writing rather than everyday speech.
"The report used a literary style that felt out of place in a business memo."
"Words like "thou" and "hath" sound literary and are rarely used in conversation."
"Her emails were too literary, full of long, elaborate sentences nobody wanted to read."
How to use literary
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHaving to do with literature, or written in a formal, artistic style.
Common pairings
literary criticism
literary fiction
literary agent
literary style
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more literary
- Superlative
- most literary
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She has a strong _____ background, having studied English and Comparative Literature.
Etymology
From French littéraire, ultimately from Latin littera ("letter").
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for literary
See all rhymes for 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.
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