literary
adjective
lit·er·ary
ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē 
1
a
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of humane learning or literature
a literary education
a literary institution
b
: bookish sense 2
an essay written in a very literary style
c
: of or relating to books
a literary agent
a literary manuscript
2
a
: well-read
… he is literary, given to quoting to himself rather long stretches of remembered lines …—
F. J. Hoffman
F. J. Hoffman
b
: of or relating to authors or scholars or to their professions
her literary biographies
Synonyms of literary
Examples of literary in a Sentence
Do his books have any literary merit?
Mystery fiction is only one of many literary forms.
an essay written in a very literary style
The author uses many literary devices in his work.
He entered the literary world right out of college.
She hired a literary agent.
Recent Examples on the Web
This practice exiles him completely from the realm of literary fiction; some might even question whether Patterson is really a writer.
—Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
How to build a literary community with poetry (and biscuits).
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
Her poetry offers a rare collection of literary introspection from within Miami-Dade County government, where Tallman works as chief of staff to a top deputy of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
—Douglas Hanks
april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
The myth found its most enduring literary form in the Georgics (37–30 bce), a didactic poem on agriculture by the Roman poet Virgil.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literary
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Joshua Rothman, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
How to build a literary community with poetry (and biscuits).
—Literary Hub, 2 Apr. 2026
Her poetry offers a rare collection of literary introspection from within Miami-Dade County government, where Tallman works as chief of staff to a top deputy of Mayor Daniella Levine Cava.
—Douglas Hanks
april 1, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2026
The myth found its most enduring literary form in the Georgics (37–30 bce), a didactic poem on agriculture by the Roman poet Virgil.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for literary
Cite this Entry
“Literary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literary. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
literary
adjective
lit·er·ary
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē
1
a
: of or relating to literature
b
2
: of or relating to writers or writing as a profession
literarily
adverb
ˌlit-ə-ˈrer-ə-lē
literariness
noun
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē-nəs
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