literal
in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical: the literal meaning of a word.
following the words of the original very closely and exactly: a literal translation of Goethe.
true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual: a literal description of conditions.
being actually such, without exaggeration or inaccuracy: the literal extermination of a city.
(of persons) tending to construe words in the strict sense or in an unimaginative way; matter-of-fact; prosaic.
of or relating to the letters of the alphabet.
of the nature of letters.
expressed by letters.
affecting a letter or letters: a literal error.
a typographical error, especially involving a single letter.
Origin of literal
1Other words for literal
Other words from literal
- lit·er·al·ness, noun
- non·lit·er·al, adjective
- non·lit·er·al·ly, adverb
- non·lit·er·al·ness, noun
- o·ver·lit·er·al, adjective
- un·lit·er·al, adjective
- un·lit·er·al·ly, adverb
Words that may be confused with literal
- literal , littoral
Words Nearby literal
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use literal in a sentence
I never hear a Democrat talk about these goods, which are, in the literal sense, indivisible—for us all.
The Democrats’ Black Hole—and What They Can Do About It | Michael Tomasky | December 31, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTSo is the literal “turkey point of view” offered by the GoPros attached to the turkeys as they run around the coop.
“The amount of literal brainwork needed to do his job too such a toll on him that it sent him to an early grave,” Goode says.
From ‘The Good Wife’ to ‘The Imitation Game’: Matthew Goode Wages His Charm Offensive | Kevin Fallon | November 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWhat they will do is bring government into the bedroom in a far more literal way than the most aggressive anti-abortion laws.
“Air refueling and airlift assets were the literal pinch I am describing here,” the official said.
First U.S. Stealth Jet Attack on Syria Cost More Than Indian Mission to Mars | Dave Majumdar | September 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Sometimes it comes in literal sobriety, sometimes in derisive travesti, sometimes in tragic aggravation.
Checkmate | Joseph Sheridan Le FanuIn a literal sense, too,” added Tom Brown, “for it will be sold as waste-paper and be made up into matches.
Hunting the Lions | R.M. BallantyneIt would be impossible to find two figures more life-like, more literal, or painted with greater sincerity.
Bastien Lepage | Fr. Crastre"But, in the sense I mean, may have a very literal and terrible significance," pursued Dr. Silence.
Three More John Silence Stories | Algernon BlackwoodAccording to the literal meaning, it would seem that the Laird of Brodie was something less than a gentleman?
British Dictionary definitions for literal
/ (ˈlɪtərəl) /
in exact accordance with or limited to the primary or explicit meaning of a word or text
word for word
dull, factual, or prosaic
consisting of, concerning, or indicated by letters
true; actual
maths containing or using coefficients and constants represented by letters: ax² + b is a literal expression: Compare numerical (def. 3a)
Also called: literal error a misprint or misspelling in a text
Origin of literal
1Derived forms of literal
- literalness or literality (ˌlɪtəˈrælɪtɪ), noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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