literature

American  

[lit-er-uh-cher, -choor, li-truh-] / ˈlɪt ər ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, ˈlɪ trə- /

noun

1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays.

2. the entire body of writings of a specific language, period, people, etc..

   the literature of England.

3. the writings dealing with a particular subject.

   the literature of ornithology.

4. the profession of a writer or author.

5. literary work or production.

6. any kind of printed material, as circulars, leaflets, or handbills.

   literature describing company products.

7. Archaic. polite learning; literary culture; appreciation of letters and books.

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literature British  

/ ˈlɪtərɪtʃə, ˈlɪtrɪ- /

noun

1. written material such as poetry, novels, essays, etc, esp works of imagination characterized by excellence of style and expression and by themes of general or enduring interest

2. the body of written work of a particular culture or people

   Scandinavian literature

3. written or printed matter of a particular type or on a particular subject

   scientific literature

   the literature of the violin

4. printed material giving a particular type of information

   sales literature

5. the art or profession of a writer

6. obsolete learning

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Usage

What is literature? Literature is writing that uses artistic expression and form and is considered to have merit or be important. As an artistic term, literature refers to written works, such as novels, short stories, biographies, memories, essays, and poetry. However, songs, movies, TV shows, video games, and paintings are typically not considered to be literature because the final output is not text. At the same time, literature is usually thought to only include works of art. Informative works like newspapers, scientific journals, religious texts, press releases, and spreadsheets are generally not considered to be literature. Yet in scientific study, especially anthropology or history, the word literature is used more broadly to describe everything that a specific society or group has ever written. For example, a researcher may be studying “Persian literature,” which would include even mundane, non-artistic pieces of writing that was created by a citizen of the Persian empire, such as lists of food supplies.

Related Words

Literature, belles-lettres, letters refer to artistic writings worthy of being remembered. In the broadest sense, literature includes any type of writings on any subject: the literature of medicine; usually, however, it means the body of artistic writings of a country or period that are characterized by beauty of expression and form and by universality of intellectual and emotional appeal: English literature of the 16th century. Belles-lettres is a more specific term for writings of a light, elegant, or excessively refined character: His talent is not for scholarship but for belles-lettres. Letters (rare today outside of certain fixed phrases) refers to literature as a domain of study or creation: a man of letters.

Other Word Forms

• preliterature noun

Etymology

Origin of literature

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English litterature, from Latin litterātūra “grammar;” literate, -ure

Explanation

Literature is writing, usually good, creative, or smart writing, or at least we hope it is. If you love books and have stacks of them at home, then you are a lover of literature. Literature comes from the Latin root litterātūra, or lettered, but there are higher standards for literature than just something written down. Novels and stories are considered literature. If you're a practicing psychologist, you have keep up with the current literature on psychology, which is what researching psychologists write, not novels about shrinks. You might want your profession to be literature, but you'll probably have to teach literature while you're waiting for the book deal.

Example Sentences

It’s this exposé of societal absurdity and Meursault’s atheistic refusal to play along with pacifying notions of sin and redemption, that makes“The Stranger” a pinnacle of confrontational literature.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

“Railroaded” is a memoir of Mr. Naiden’s time on the tracks, an uncommon volume within the ample subway literature that focuses on “the subway as a workplace.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 10, 2026

The literature shows that one of the channels through which energy price shocks, like other commodity price shocks, can impact the economy is the central bank.

From Barron's • Apr. 3, 2026

However, the researchers highlight major gaps in the existing literature.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

The Orff method makes use of nursery rhymes, folktales, folksongs, folkdances, and authentic, classical compositions—all music and literature of primary importance and quality.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• article
• biography
• brochure
• composition
• drama
• essay
• history
• information
• leaflet
• lore
• novel
• pamphlet
• poetry
• prose
• research
• story