Word
literary
Phoneticslit·er·ary
US/ˈɫɪtɝˌɛɹi/
UK/lˈɪtəɹəɹi/
Definitions
01related to literature
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. relating to books, poems, and plays that are considered to have artistic value.
adj. pertaining to literature as a body of work or a field of study.
“The city is famous for its rich literary history and many famous poets.”
“The university's literary archives contain original manuscripts from several Nobel Prize winners, providing invaluable insight into their creative processes.”
Antonyms
02formal writing style
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. using a style of language that is more formal or artistic than the way people usually speak.
adj. characteristic of or appropriate to formal literature rather than everyday speech or functional writing.
“The author used very literary language that was beautiful but sometimes difficult to read.”
“His prose style is notably literary, employing complex metaphors and archaic vocabulary that demand a high level of concentration from the reader.”
Antonyms
03knowledgeable about books
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. describes a person who loves reading and knows a lot about books.
adj. well-read or knowledgeable about books and the history of writing.
“She was a very literary person who spent all her weekends in old bookstores.”
“The evening was spent in the company of literary types who debated the merits of Victorian poetry until the early hours of the morning.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “literary” in context.
Adjective
01. great literary
“Shakespeare is widely considered one of the great literary figures of all time.”
adj + noun
02. purely literary
“The professor analyzed the text from a purely literary perspective, ignoring its historical context.”
adv + adj
Noun
03. literary award
“Winning a major literary award can significantly boost a writer's book sales.”
adj + noun
04. literary critic
“The literary critic wrote a scathing review of the author's latest novel.”
adj + noun
05. literary device
“Metaphor is a common literary device used to create vivid imagery in poetry.”
adj + noun
06. literary heritage
“The city is very proud of its rich literary heritage and hosts many book festivals.”
adj + noun
07. work of literary fiction
“She prefers reading a complex work of literary fiction over a simple beach novel.”
noun + of + adj + noun
Confusables
Literal describes the exact, non-figurative meaning of words, while literary describes things related to books and formal writing.
RememberLiteral is the Letter of the law; Literary is for Literature.
Real-World Examples
“His books are reviewed often on BookTok, TikTok’s literary subcommunity.” “Instead it is 600 pages of deep pleasure, an excuse to revisit old literary loves and be reminded of ones that have slipped from view.” Etymology
From French littéraire.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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