literalism

American  

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

noun

1. adherence to the exact letter or the literal sense, as in translation or interpretation.

   to interpret the law with uncompromising literalism.

2. a peculiarity of expression resulting from this.

   The work is studded with these obtuse literalisms.

3. 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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literalism British  

/ ˈlɪtərəˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. the disposition to take words and statements in their literal sense

2. literal or realistic portrayal in art or literature

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Other Word Forms

• literalist noun
• literalistic adjective
• literalistically adverb

Etymology

Origin of literalism

First recorded in 1635–45; literal + -ism

Example Sentences

Yet he passionately argued against biblical literalism and other views such as intelligent design, which professes that the natural world is too complex to have developed without the guiding hand of a supreme being.

From Washington Post • Mar. 7, 2023

Maimonides claimed that biblical literalism was the main reason people could not get closer to God.

From Textbooks • Jun. 15, 2022

It's been quoted to argue against Biblical literalism and science denial.

From Salon • Jan. 28, 2022

That’s one among many reasons this new seven-part series is so special and refreshing: It’s a wild departure from the talking-heads literalism you’ll find elsewhere.

From New York Times • Aug. 19, 2021

But you wouldn't know all this if you went by the sound of his name—which I did, an immigrant's failing, literalism.

From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez