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

Grace is a woman of the Earth, a force of nature in the most literal sense.

Read more on Salon

But scrolling on social media also has a literal impact on our brain chemistry.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He remained a symbol of resistance to Hichilema’s austerity measures—one reason there’s a metaphorical match being played over his literal legacy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His staff, meanwhile, has spent hours handing out literal flyers on campus, hopeful that it will drum up interest.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Newby has said he had a crisis of faith at Duke when a professor challenged the literal truth of the Bible and he felt unprepared to defend it.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• accurate 
• actual 
• authentic 
• true 
• unvarnished