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
Memoirs and autobiographical novels written by women and gay men about their mothers have been rightfully celebrated as vital contributions to literary culture.
—Sam Sussman
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
Set in both the ‘60s and ‘70s, her third novel follows two writers — Lane Warren, in the midst of a successful literary career, and Gala Margolis, who seems to be present at every hip party in the Laurel Canyon era.
—Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
This week’s literary geography quiz highlights the locations of popular novels set in America’s Old West.
—J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Hosh has also worked with Canadian artist, Marcel Dzama on a t-shirt called Sin Fronteras, and a poster that will have its proceeds go to NDN Girls Book Club, a literary nonprofit that hosts free literary workshops for Native people.
—Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
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Sam Sussman
september 16, Literary Hub, 16 Sep. 2025
Set in both the ‘60s and ‘70s, her third novel follows two writers — Lane Warren, in the midst of a successful literary career, and Gala Margolis, who seems to be present at every hip party in the Laurel Canyon era.
—Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 16 Sep. 2025
This week’s literary geography quiz highlights the locations of popular novels set in America’s Old West.
—J. D. Biersdorfer, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
Hosh has also worked with Canadian artist, Marcel Dzama on a t-shirt called Sin Fronteras, and a poster that will have its proceeds go to NDN Girls Book Club, a literary nonprofit that hosts free literary workshops for Native people.
—Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 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 18 Sep. 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
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