literal

[lit-er-uhl]

adjective

1. 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.

2. following the words of the original very closely and exactly.

   a literal translation of Goethe.

3. true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual.

   a literal description of conditions.

   Synonyms: reliable, exact, truthful

4. being actually such, without exaggeration or inaccuracy.

   the literal extermination of a city.

5. (of persons) tending to construe words in the strict sense or in an unimaginative way; matter-of-fact; prosaic.

6. of or relating to the letters of the alphabet.

7. of the nature of letters.

8. expressed by letters.

9. affecting a letter or letters.

   a literal error.

noun

1. a typographical error, especially involving a single letter.

literal

/ ˈlɪtərəl, ˌlɪtəˈrælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. in exact accordance with or limited to the primary or explicit meaning of a word or text

2. word for word

3. dull, factual, or prosaic

4. consisting of, concerning, or indicated by letters

5. true; actual

6. maths containing or using coefficients and constants represented by letters: ax² + b is a literal expression Compare numerical

noun

1. Also called: literal error. a misprint or misspelling in a text

Other Word Forms

• literalness noun
• nonliteral adjective
• nonliterally adverb
• nonliteralness noun
• overliteral adjective
• unliteral adjective
• unliterally adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of literal¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin litterālis “of letters.” See letter ¹, -al ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of literal¹

C14: from Late Latin litterālis concerning letters, from Latin littera _letter

Example Sentences

This was to underscore the literal truth of Psalm 113:3: “From the rising of the sun to its setting, the name of the Lord is to be praised.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

These days, though, Black Friday is giving the wave a literal run for its money, according to industry experts.

Read more on MarketWatch

“Train Dreams,” a film on Netflix starring Joel Edgerton and Felicity Jones, is breathtaking in the most literal way, delivering emotion like a sucker punch.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Even in its most literal form, it’s the good stuff — the bonus, the gloss, the part everyone reaches for.

Read more on Salon

There was a time when KevOnStage was a very literal description of comedian Kevin Fredericks as a hungry comedian looking for stage time.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accurate 
• actual 
• authentic 
• true 
• unvarnished