# literary

/ˈɫɪtɝˌɛɹi/ (US) · /lˈɪtəɹəɹi/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/literary
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. related to literature

adjective · CEFR B2

relating to books, poems, and plays that are considered to have artistic value.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. formal writing style

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

using a style of language that is more formal or artistic than the way people usually speak.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. knowledgeable about books

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes a person who loves reading and knows a lot about books.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- She has a very literary style of writing.
- The city is famous for its literary history and was home to many great poets.
- While the plot is simple, the novel's rich literary allusions and complex metaphors suggest it was written for a highly educated audience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.