literature

noun

lit·​er·​a·​ture ˈli-tə-rə-ˌchu̇r 

ˈli-trə-ˌchu̇r,

ˈli-tər-ˌchu̇r,

ˈli-tə-,

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r 

-ˌtu̇r

1

a(1)

: writings in prose or verse

especially : writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest

literature stands related to man as science stands to nature

—J. H. Newman

(2)

: an example of such writings

what came out, though rarely literature, was always a roaring good story

—People

b

: the body of writings on a particular subject

scientific literature

c

: the body of written works produced in a particular language, country, or age

French literature

Renaissance literature

d

: printed matter (such as leaflets or circulars)

campaign literature

2

: the production of literary work especially as an occupation

Literature is his profession.

3

: the aggregate of a usually specified type of musical compositions

the Brahms piano literature

4

archaic : literary culture

Examples of literature in a Sentence

She took courses in history and literature.

Her education gave her an appreciation for great literature.

He's an expert in American literature.

the literature of the Renaissance

studies in different Asian literatures

Can you send me some literature about your product?

Recent Examples on the Web

The group of high school seniors volunteered as part of a first-time project for their literature and social justice class taught by Maeve Gavagan, an English teacher at Marquette High. —Alyssa N. Salcedo, jsonline.com, 23 Oct. 2025

As such, the film is also a celebration of cinema and literature as a means to engage with others and the world at large. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Oct. 2025

Regretting You is a similarly ridiculous and overwrought slice of melodrama, leavened with strange moments of comedy that leave you wondering if the whole thing isn’t some kind of bizarre art project, an elaborate, camp parody of the very notion of romantic literature itself. —Damon Wise, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2025

Greek tragedies, Roman philosophy, African American literature, global masterpieces—these are not dusty relics. —MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin litteratura writing, grammar, learning, from litteratus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing literature

• gray literature

Kids Definition

literature

noun

lit·​er·​a·​ture ˈlit-ə-rə-ˌchu̇(ə)r  ˈli-trə- 

-chər

1

: written works having excellence of form or expression and ideas of lasting and widespread interest

2

: written material (as of a period or on a subject)