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
As Mary Shelley’s 1818 literary classic returns to the screen once again, the cast and crew of Guillermo Del Toro‘s Frankenstein celebrated the fruits of the writer/director’s lifelong ambition at Monday’s Los Angeles premiere.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
But as Dan Sinykin documents in Big Fiction, the system of literary production is not geared for that.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Throughout the three-month collaboration, Minnie Rose will host book club gatherings, podcast recordings, author signings and literary salons, among other events.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
StudioCanal Stories, created in 2024 and led by Sarah Reese Geffroy, adapts literary works for TV and film.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
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Glenn Garner, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2025
But as Dan Sinykin documents in Big Fiction, the system of literary production is not geared for that.
—Literary Hub, 7 Oct. 2025
Throughout the three-month collaboration, Minnie Rose will host book club gatherings, podcast recordings, author signings and literary salons, among other events.
—Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025
StudioCanal Stories, created in 2024 and led by Sarah Reese Geffroy, adapts literary works for TV and film.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 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 10 Oct. 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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