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British

literary

[ lit-uh-rer-ee ]

/ ˈlɪt əˌrɛr i /

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See synonyms for literary on Thesaurus.com

adjective

pertaining to or of the nature of books and writings, especially those classed as literature: literary history.

pertaining to authorship: literary style.

versed in or acquainted with literature; well-read.

engaged in or having the profession of literature or writing: a literary man.

characterized by an excessive or affected display of learning; stilted; pedantic.

preferring books to actual experience; bookish.

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Origin of literary

1640–50; <Latin līterārius,litterārius of reading and writing. See letter¹, -ary

usage note for literary

In this dictionary, the label Literary is assigned to an entry term or definition that is used rarely in contemporary speech or writing except to create a literary, poetic, or evocative effect.

OTHER WORDS FROM literary

lit·er·ar·i·ly, adverblit·er·ar·i·ness, nounnon·lit·er·ar·i·ly, adverbnon·lit·er·ar·i·ly·ness, noun

non·lit·er·ar·i·ness, nounnon·lit·er·ar·y, adjectiveo·ver·lit·er·ar·i·ly, adverbo·ver·lit·er·ar·i·ness, nouno·ver·lit·er·ar·y, adjectivepre·lit·er·ar·y, adjectivepseu·do·lit·er·ar·y, adjectivequa·si-lit·er·ar·y, adjectiveun·lit·er·ar·y, adjective

Words nearby literary

literalism, literality, literalize, literally, literal-minded, literary, literary agent, literary executor, literate, literati, literatim

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use literary in a sentence

Steve Erickson is the author of 10 novels including Shadowbahn, Zeroville, These Dreams of You and Our Ecstatic Days—as well as two works of literary non-fiction about politics and culture—that have been translated into 11 languages.
In Science Fiction, We Are Never Home - Issue 95: Escape|Steve Erickson|February 10, 2021|Nautilus
There, he determined to relaunch his stalled literary career.
‘The Queen’s Gambit’ is a bestseller, but its author, Walter Tevis, was hardly a one-hit wonder|Michael Dirda|February 3, 2021|Washington Post
We could also use a literary culture that nurtures more writers the way it has Duchovny.
David Duchovny wants to be taken seriously as a novelist. His new book makes a good case.|Mark Athitakis|February 1, 2021|Washington Post
Her debut poetry volume is expected in September, her first picture book is on the way, and she has several other literary projects cooking.
Amanda Gorman will bring poetry—and politics—to the Super Bowl|Kristen Bellstrom|January 28, 2021|Fortune

Much as I value serious literary fiction, I find reading it to be exceptionally draining.
When I find fiction too draining, I turn to books about books. They can be as thrilling as a whodunit.|Michael Dirda|January 27, 2021|Washington Post
From this attitude he draws a singular comic and literary power.
Houellebecq’s Incendiary Novel Imagines France With a Muslim President|Pierre Assouline|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Lacey Noonan's A Gronking to Remember makes 50 Shades of Grey look like Madame Bovary in terms of its literary sophistication.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The goal is to create a literary anatomy of the last century—or, to be precise, from 1900 to 2014.
The 2014 Novel of the Year|Nathaniel Rich|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To reclaim it, he had to move beyond established conventions about how a literary career should be conducted.
A Year In The Life of The Canterbury Tales’ Storied Beginnings|Wendy Smith|December 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A new book from Mallory Ortberg imagines what literary legends including King Lear and Jane Eyre would have texted.
What Would Jane Eyre Sext?|Jennie Yabroff|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Louis Petit de Bachaumon died; a native of Paris, known as the author of several literary works.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
It was strenuously opposed by all possible means, governmental, legislative, and literary.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
Samuel Badcock, an English divine and writer, died; admired as a pulpit orator and a man of literary talent.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
She was a woman of great intellectual endowment, with highly cultivated literary tastes.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland|Joseph Tatlow
Robert Harley, earl of Oxford, died; an English statesman and literary character.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell

British Dictionary definitions for literary

literary

/ (ˈlɪtərərɪ, ˈlɪtrərɪ) /

adjective

of, relating to, concerned with, or characteristic of literature or scholarly writinga literary discussion; a literary style

versed in or knowledgeable about literaturea literary man

(of a word) formal; not colloquial

Derived forms of literary

literarily, adverbliterariness, noun

Word Origin for literary

C17: from Latin litterārius concerning reading and writing. See letter

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