What does literary mean?
Literary means relating to literature, authorship, or the study of written works. It may describe a literary period, work, tradition, or institution, as in a literary history or literary criticism. In a broader sense, literary characterizes language that is refined, thoughtful, or influenced by books and formal study. The word often carries a positive cultural connotation, suggesting imagination, education, and awareness of written expression, although it can sometimes imply that a subject is being treated in an overly bookish or abstract way. Literary is an adjective, so it normally precedes a noun and takes the adverb form literarily. It should not be confused with literate, which primarily means able to read and write, or with literature, which names the body of written works or the field of studying them. Together, these related forms distinguish the activity of reading and writing from the intellectual and aesthetic qualities associated with literary work.
adjectiveRelating to literature or the study of written works. It can also describe writing or speech that is thoughtful, refined, or shaped by a knowledge of books.
- Relating to literature, authorship, or the study of written works.
- Characteristic of thoughtful, refined, or book-based expression; showing a knowledge of literature.
"Her essays are admired for their literary style and insight."
"The novel is widely considered the most important literary work of the period."
"Her argument was literary in style, drawing on poetry and philosophy to frame a practical question."
Literary began with a word for letters and learning, so its original sense points to the lasting link between writing and a cultivated mind.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does literary come from?
Literary comes from Latin, where literatura referred to letters, writing, and learning, ultimately connected with liter, “letter.” The adjective literaryus meant “of letters” and entered English in the early 17th century. English later developed closely related forms such as literate, literacy, and literature from the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How literary is actually used
Literary is a formal and generally positive adjective. In descriptions of writing or speech, it can suggest elegance, cultural awareness, or an emphasis on books, but it is not a synonym for simply literate or well educated.
Easily confused with literary
Literary means connected with literature or characteristic of literary expression, whereas literate means able to read and write.
Literature is the collective body or study of written works, while literary is an adjective describing something connected with literature.