literal

1 of 2

adjective

lit·​er·​al ˈli-t(ə-)rəl 

1

a

: according with the letter of the scriptures

adheres to a literal reading of the passage

b

: adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression : actual

Liberty in the literal sense is impossible …

—Benjamin N. Cardozo

c

: free from exaggeration or embellishment

the literal truth

d

: characterized by a concern mainly with facts

an extremely literal person

2

: of, relating to, or expressed in letters

The distress signal SOS has no literal meaning.

3

: reproduced word for word : exact, verbatim

a literal translation

literality

ˌli-tə-ˈra-lə-tē 

noun

literalness

ˈli-t(ə-)rəl-nəs 

noun

literal

2 of 2

noun

: a small error usually of a single letter (as in writing)

Synonyms of literal

Adjective

• historical
• factual
• true
• documentary
• nonfictional

Examples of literal in a Sentence

Adjective

I was using the word in its literal sense.

The literal meaning of “know your ropes” is “to know a lot about ropes,” while figuratively it means “to know a lot about how to do something.”

a literal translation of a book

The story he told was basically true, even if it wasn't the literal truth.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

The first episode opens with the literal hanging of an affable gay man named Leo (Alan Cumming) outside of his flat in Manchester. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026

An even more literal family reunion also took place over the weekend, with Ye and ex-wife Kim Kardashian both attending their daughter North West’s first headlining show at the Vic Theatre in Chicago on September 5. — Hershal Pandya, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Noun

So the Guest 2 is literally embedded in Onslaught in both a literal and a weird technical way too. — Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026

However, her performance soon takes on a more grounded, childlike cadence, which roots the supposedly amnesiac Margot a little too firmly within the literal, especially for a tale whose poetry lies in its uncanniness. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin litteralis, from Latin, of a letter, from littera letter

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1622, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing literal

• literal-minded

Rhymes for literal

• littoral
• sublittoral

Video

Literally

A word that (literally) drives people nuts

Kids Definition

literal

adjective

lit·​er·​al

ˈlit-ə-rəl, 

ˈli-trəl

1

a

: following the ordinary or usual meaning of the words

literal and figurative meanings

b

: true to fact : plain, unadorned

took the television drama to be the literal truth

c

: concerned mainly with facts

a literal-minded person

2

: of, relating to, or expressed in letters

literal equations

3

: done word for word : exact, verbatim

a literal translation

literalness noun