Literary means concerned with or connected with the writing, study, or appreciation of literature.
Her literary criticism focuses on the way great literature suggests ideas.
She's the literary editor of the 'Sunday Review'.
...a literary masterpiece.
Synonyms: well-read, lettered, learned, formal More Synonyms of literary
2. adjective
Literary words and expressions are often unusual in some way and are used to create a special effect in a piece of writing such as a poem, speech, or novel.
literary in British English
(ˈlɪtərərɪ, ˈlɪtrərɪ)
adjective
1.
of, relating to, concerned with, or characteristic of literature or scholarly writing
a literary discussion
a literary style
2.
versed in or knowledgeable about literature
a literary man
3.
(of a word) formal; not colloquial
Derived forms
literarily (ˈliterarily)
adverb
literariness (ˈliterariness)
noun
Word origin
C17: from Latin litterārius concerning reading and writing. See letter
literary in American English
(ˈlɪtərˌɛri)
adjective
1.
a.
of, having the nature of, or dealing with literature
b.
of or having to do with books or writing
literary agents
2.
characterized by the more formal, balanced, and polished language of literature rather than the informal language of speech
3.
a.
familiar with or versed in literature
b.
making literature a profession
Derived forms
literariness (ˈliterˌariness)
noun
Word origin
L litterarius < littera, letter1
Examples of 'literary' in a sentence
literary
There is an echo of the divide to be found in literary festivals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She became a popular speaker at literary festivals and was rarely off duty.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was one of the great literary feuds of the 20th century.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You might well feel a tad suspicious of this literary agent 's good fortune.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
A new giant has been discovered in literary criticism.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I have had three literary agents over the decades, but that was because one retired ill and one died suddenly.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My dad was a literary agent, so I think he has a great eye.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
There is also a further implication here for the role and place of literary criticism.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
He could hardly have said the same about his own literary reputation.
The Times Literary Supplement (2008)
Today the town hosts notable music and literary festivals and a major horseracing festival.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Dublin spawned a host of literary greats.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Literary critics have led the way in studying the significance of metaphors in human life.
Christianity Today (2000)
Our literary editor has already offered her eloquent justification.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
She has published three volumes of poetry and a book of literary criticism.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Literary editors told him the public did not like books that crossed boundaries.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
As a literary editor he was fiercely loyal to his writers.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
What difference do literary agents make?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Literary festivals, readings and slams have made poetry much more available.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He was already a distinguished literary agent, too.
Louise Carpenter AN UNLIKELY COUNTESS: Lily Budge and the 13th Earl of Galloway (2004)
So, one pillar of the literary establishment writing about another.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They couldn't understand why we had made a musical based on a literary masterpiece.
The Sun (2013)
Both universities' strong academic programmes in the arts and humanities will underpin joint cultural and literary festivals.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
IN the world of literary reviewing there is usually little to disturb the peace.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A high proportion of them are literary critics.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
The world 's liveliest literary review.
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Because over the years it had gotten more and more painful to look into the world of the scholarly literary others....
The Times Literary Supplement (2014)
Giving us a brilliantly provocative model of how a text can be discussed against its own expectations, this book will prove highly productive for literary studies.
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
And it became clear that he was not, apparently, the only person struggling to sell the furniture of a literary great.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In other languages
literary
British English: literary ADJECTIVE
Literary means concerned with or connected with the writing, study, or appreciation of literature.
Her literary criticism focuses on the way great literature suggests ideas.
American English: literary
Brazilian Portuguese: literário
Chinese: 文学的
European Spanish: literario
French: littéraire
German: literarisch
Italian: letterario
Japanese: 文学の
Korean: 문학의
European Portuguese: literário
Latin American Spanish: literario
Chinese translation of 'literary'
literary
(ˈlɪtərərɪ)
adj
[work, criticism, theory]文学(學)的 (wénxué de)
[word, expression, language]书(書)面的 (shūmiàn de)
(adjective)
Definition
knowledgeable about literature
a literary masterpiece
Synonyms
well-read
He was clever, well-read and interested in the arts.
lettered
young and old, lettered and unlettered
learned
He is a serious scholar, a genuine learned man.
formal
an elevated and formal style
intellectual
They were very intellectual and witty.
scholarly
He was an intellectual, scholarly man.
literate
The lyrics are highly literate; they even quote Voltaire.
erudite
I found him a charming and erudite companion.
bookish
a quiet, bookish child
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bookish
Definition
fond of reading
a quiet, bookish child
Synonyms
studious,
learned,
academic,
intellectual,
literary,
scholarly,
erudite,
pedantic,
well-read,
donnish,
swotty (British, informal)
in the sense of erudite
Definition
having or showing great academic knowledge
I found him a charming and erudite companion.
Synonyms
learned,
lettered,
cultured,
educated,
scholarly,
cultivated,
knowledgeable,
literate,
well-educated,
well-read
in the sense of formal
Definition
(of education and training) given officially at a school, college, etc.
an elevated and formal style
Synonyms
learned,
intellectual,
literary,
scholarly,
highbrow
Synonyms of 'literary'
literary
Explore 'literary' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of intellectual
Definition
clever or intelligent
They were very intellectual and witty.
Synonyms
scholarly,
learned,
academic,
lettered,
intelligent,
rational,
cerebral,
erudite,
scholastic,
highbrow,
well-read,
studious,
bookish
in the sense of learned
Definition
involving or characterized by scholarship
He is a serious scholar, a genuine learned man.
Synonyms
scholarly,
experienced,
lettered,
cultured,
skilled,
expert,
academic,
intellectual,
versed,
literate,
well-informed,
erudite,
highbrow,
well-read
in the sense of lettered
Definition
well educated
young and old, lettered and unlettered
Synonyms
educated,
learned,
cultured,
informed,
accomplished,
scholarly,
versed,
cultivated,
switched-on (informal),
knowledgeable,
literate,
well-educated,
erudite,
well-read
in the sense of literate
Definition
educated
The lyrics are highly literate; they even quote Voltaire.