literary
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
F. J. Hoffman
b
: of or relating to authors or scholars or to their professions
her literary biographies
Examples of literary in a Sentence
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
Her verse, while serious and sophisticated, carries its literary baggage lightly.
—A.o. Scott, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Even as Twain’s home life stabilized, his literary ambitions grew.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Perhaps claiming space as a writer, a woman from Pakistan, who did not want to conform to expected narratives and did not have powerful relations and connections in the publishing and literary world.
—Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Her poetry, short fiction and Opinion columns have been published in literary journals and newspapers.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
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A.o. Scott, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Even as Twain’s home life stabilized, his literary ambitions grew.
—Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025
Perhaps claiming space as a writer, a woman from Pakistan, who did not want to conform to expected narratives and did not have powerful relations and connections in the publishing and literary world.
—Sonya Rehman, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025
Her poetry, short fiction and Opinion columns have been published in literary journals and newspapers.
—Arkansas Online, 26 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
Cite this Entry
“Literary.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literary. Accessed 7 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
literary
adjective
lit·er·ary
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē
1
a
: of or relating to literature
b
2
: of or relating to writers or writing as a profession
literarily
adverb
ˌlit-ə-ˈrer-ə-lē
literariness
noun
ˈlit-ə-ˌrer-ē-nəs
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