literalism

[ lit-er-uh-liz-uh m ]
/ ˈlɪt ər əˌlɪz əm /

noun

adherence to the exact letter or the literal sense, as in translation or interpretation: to interpret the law with uncompromising literalism.
a peculiarity of expression resulting from this: The work is studded with these obtuse literalisms.
exact representation or portrayal, without idealization, as in art or literature: a literalism more appropriate to journalism than to the novel.

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Origin of literalism

First recorded in 1635–45; literal + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM literalism

lit·er·al·ist, nounlit·er·al·is·tic, adjectivelit·er·al·is·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby literalism

literacy hour, literacy test, literae humaniores, literal, literal-minded, literalism, literality, literalize, literally, literary, literary agent
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for literalism

British Dictionary definitions for literalism

literalism
/ (ˈlɪtərəˌlɪzəm) /

noun

the disposition to take words and statements in their literal sense
literal or realistic portrayal in art or literature

Derived forms of literalism

literalist, nounliteralistic, adjectiveliteralistically, adverb
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