Word
textual
Phoneticstex·tu·al, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtɛksˌtʃuəɫ/
UK/tˈɛkstʃuːəl/
Definitions
01relating to written text
C1 · Advanced Academic · Formal
adj. relating to the written words in a book, document, or piece of writing.
adj. of or pertaining to the written text of a document or literary work, as opposed to its themes, context, or oral delivery.
“The lawyer looked for textual evidence in the contract to support his case.”
“The professor provided a detailed textual analysis of the poem, focusing on the specific word choices rather than the historical background.”
Usage
Usually placed before the noun it modifies.
02relating to text messages
C2 · Proficiency Informal
adj. relating to sending messages on a phone.
adj. pertaining to digital text messaging, often used in modern social or legal contexts regarding communication via mobile devices.
“They have a very textual relationship because they mostly talk through phone apps.”
“The investigation uncovered a long history of textual harassment between the two employees over several months.”
Teaching tip
This sense is often used as a play on words with 'sexual' in modern slang, though it is also used seriously in legal discussions about phone records.
Real-World Examples
“For example, machine learning models can learn artistic characteristics from collections data to generate automated textual descriptions.” “The system was designed to identify subtle textual "fingerprints" that repeatedly appear in known paper mill products.” Etymology
From Middle English textewell, textueel, textuel, textuele, tixtuel (“learned in texts, bookish”), possibly from Latin textuālis; also compare Middle French textuele; or perhaps a coinage by Chaucer from Latin textus and Middle English -el. English spelling conformed to Latin from late 15c. By surface analysis, text + -ual.
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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/textual