literalism

noun

lit·​er·​al·​ism ˈli-t(ə-)rə-ˌli-zəm 

1

: adherence to the explicit substance of an idea or expression

biblical literalism

2

: fidelity to observable fact : realism

literalist

ˈli-t(ə-)rə-list 

noun

literalistic

ˌli-t(ə-)rə-ˈli-stik 

adjective

Synonyms of literalism

• realism
• naturalism

Examples of literalism in a Sentence

if audiences ever got the literalism they claim they want in movies, they'd be fast asleep by the second reel

Recent Examples on the Web

Audrey Hobert snuck up on pop this year and broke the curse of Swiftian literalism it’s been under with an album that, at first glance, seems like the quintessential document of that trend. —Pitchfork, 4 Dec. 2025

Eschewing dull literalism, the bold illustrations lend imaginative flair to the warm, lived-in look of Pye’s production design. —David Benedict, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025

Gilmour’s set, that pile of versatile luggage, has the right idea of allowing us in the audience to imagine the magical city the show’s characters keep describing without ruining it with the literalism of giant 30 Rockefeller Plaza set pieces or, worse, a huge screen. —Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2025

This literalism extends across the entire picture. —Sam Bodrojan, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for literalism

• activism
• ageism
• albinism
• altruism
• aneurism
• animism
• aphorism
• atomism
• barbarism
• bolshevism
• botulism
• brahmanism

Video

Literally

A word that (literally) drives people nuts