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
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
Given the ubiquity of stories and humanity’s vulnerability to them, citizens today would be wise to practice the skills of literary analysis, the very techniques routinely derided and devalued in a world committed to technology and tribalism.
—Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
As fiction films do something analogous to what is done in prose forms like the novel and the short story, so nonfiction films can have a broad choice of nonfiction literary models.
—Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
Previously, operas focused on stories about royal, religious, historical and literary characters.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
From memoir to literary fiction and from light to dark, these stories—though often complex in content—envelop us in simpler times.
—Nora Dahlia, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Elizabeth D. Samet, Foreign Affairs, 29 Oct. 2025
As fiction films do something analogous to what is done in prose forms like the novel and the short story, so nonfiction films can have a broad choice of nonfiction literary models.
—Susan Sontag, Vogue, 26 Oct. 2025
Previously, operas focused on stories about royal, religious, historical and literary characters.
—Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
From memoir to literary fiction and from light to dark, these stories—though often complex in content—envelop us in simpler times.
—Nora Dahlia, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
Cite this Entry
“Literary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literary. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share