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
The law is vague and broad and included no room for considering the literary merit of the work, and so the result was a wave of book bans across the state.
—Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Amid the pillaging of homes, Roman magistrates were likely sent to the city to prevent an anarchic type of existence, based on ancient literary sources the authors referenced in the study.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
The narrative and thematic possibilities in these waters are endless, which might explain why islands of every imaginable kind drift through the literary canon, populated by castaways and runaways.
—Emma Sloley
august 14, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025
At Milford Mill Academy, magnet programs in acting, literary arts, string instruments and band are being sunset by June 2028.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for literary
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Peter Greene, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Amid the pillaging of homes, Roman magistrates were likely sent to the city to prevent an anarchic type of existence, based on ancient literary sources the authors referenced in the study.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2025
The narrative and thematic possibilities in these waters are endless, which might explain why islands of every imaginable kind drift through the literary canon, populated by castaways and runaways.
—Emma Sloley
august 14, Literary Hub, 14 Aug. 2025
At Milford Mill Academy, magnet programs in acting, literary arts, string instruments and band are being sunset by June 2028.
—Racquel Bazos, Baltimore Sun, 13 Aug. 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 22 Aug. 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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