What does litterateur mean?
A litterateur is a writer of literature, particularly an author whose work is valued for its literary quality. The word is uncommon in everyday English and has an elevated, old-fashioned tone, so it is more likely to appear in literary criticism, cultural discussion, or deliberately formal or ironic writing. It can describe novelists, essayists, poets, or other writers, although it is most naturally associated with someone whose primary occupation is literary work. The related word literature comes from the same Latin root, meaning “a letter of the alphabet,” and through the concept of letters and written texts came to mean written artistic work. Because “literature” may also mean the collective body of a culture’s written works, “litterateur” has been used broadly for a person involved in that world. In modern usage, “author” or “writer” will usually be clearer and less conspicuous.
nounA person who writes literature, especially an author whose work is regarded as having literary merit. The term can also refer more broadly to someone engaged in literary work.
- A writer of literature, especially an author recognized for literary quality.
- A person engaged in literary work or the study of literature.
"The celebrated litterateur spent several years researching the history of the novel."
"The magazine invited several leading litterateurs to discuss the changing role of the novel."
"An admired litterateur from the nineteenth century, he published only a handful of works during his lifetime."
The plural is rare because the headword itself is uncommon.
"The essays examine how two prominent litterateurs represented colonial society."
A litterateur writes literature; the word reaches back to the Latin littera, meaning “a letter of the alphabet.”
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does litterateur come from?
The English word was borrowed from French littérateur, a term for a writer or literary person. French litterateur derives from Latin litterator, “one who handles letters,” ultimately from littera, “letter” or “written character.” The same Latin root also underlies literature, literate, and literary, reflecting the historical movement from writing with letters to literacy and literature.
How litterateur is actually used
This is a rare and somewhat literary word. It may sound old-fashioned or affected, and it is sometimes used with a faintly ironic implication of someone who considers themselves an intellectual or literary figure.
Easily confused with litterateur
A litterateur is a writer of literature, whereas a literate person is simply able to read and write.