literary

1 of 2

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

b

: of or relating to authors or scholars or to their professions

her literary biographies

literarily

ˌli-tə-ˈrer-ə-lē 

adverb

literariness

ˈli-tə-ˌrer-ē-nəs 

noun

literariness

2 of 2

noun

lit·​er·​ar·​i·​ness

-rin-

plural -es

: the quality or state of being literary

Synonyms of literary

Adjective

• learned
• intellectual
• academic
• bookish
• scholastic
• erudite

Examples of literary in a Sentence

Adjective

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

Adjective

For Finite, Nuclear Children joins a slate comprising original series and adaptations of plays, operas and literary texts. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026

In a pedagogical culture that tends to shy away from unpleasantness, Goodwin’s approach felt like an honest — and valuable — way of dealing with one of the ugliest aspects of American literary history. — Helen I. Bennett, Hartford Courant, 25 Aug. 2026

Partnering with producer Mark Bacino in 1986, Green/Epstein Productions continued to score with a series of literary adaptations. — Mike Barnes, HollywoodReporter, 25 Aug. 2026

Alex works at her friend Sam’s literary agency, where there’s a constant struggle over artistic quality versus commerciality. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 24 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1872, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing literary

• anti-literary
• literary agent
• literary executor
• pre-literary

Rhymes for literary

• accessary
• adversary
• ancillary
• apiary
• arbitrary
• aviary
• axillary
• bacillary
• beriberi
• bestiary
• breviary
• budgetary

Kids Definition

literary

adjective

lit·​er·​ary ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē 

1

a

: of or relating to literature

b

: bookish sense 2

2

: of or relating to writers or writing as a profession

literarily

ˌlit-ə-ˈrer-ə-lē

adverb

literariness

ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē-nəs

noun