literalism

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

literalist

2 of 2

noun (2)

lit·​er·​al·​ist -lə̇st 

plural -s

: one that advocates or practices literalism

the literalist wants to hear cowbells in his music

—H. A. Overstreet

specifically : fundamentalist entry 1 sense 1

others of the early church fathers … were not literalists in regard to the Mosaic account of creation

—V. A. Rice & F. N. Andrews

Synonyms of literalism

Noun (1)

• realism
• naturalism

Examples of literalism in a Sentence

Noun (1)

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

Noun

But that literalism, the Court instructed, was not a clear authorization for the agency to regulate those wetlands. — Daniel Wallach, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Schoenbrun is not going for kicky mimicry here — literalism is not their chief aim. — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026

Even for an artist like Kinsella who’s never been shy about autobiographical literalism in his music, some of the revelations felt shocking. — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026

Exponents of Biblical literalism, moral conservatism, and skepticism toward secular intellectual trends can be found in all parts of the United States and Canada and in most religious denominations. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1644, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1632, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for literalism

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

Video

Literally

A word that (literally) drives people nuts