literati

plural noun

li·​te·​ra·​ti ˌli-tə-ˈrä-(ˌ)tē How to pronounce literati (audio)
1
: the educated class
2
: persons interested in literature or the arts

Examples of literati in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Over the last decade or so, ethnic identity, at least among the internet literati, has been governed by a certain essentialism that holds that culture is biologically ordained by blood. Jp Brammer, Los Angeles Times, 23 Jan. 2024 The publisher, William Blackwood, sent copies to select members of the British literati, including Charles Dickens. Namwali Serpell, The New York Review of Books, 12 Oct. 2023 Sarandos was set to accept the Business Visionary Award at the annual PEN American Spring Literary Gala, alongside fellow honoree Lorne Michaels and a host of literati including Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Susan Choi, Jennifer Egan, Min Jin Lee, Jay McInerney and Gay Talese. Matt Donnelly, Variety, 10 May 2023 His attempt at a murder-free life was left in Washington state; with Wonder and New England’s literati, Joe has plenty of reasons to get stressed and obsessed. Karin Tanabe, Washington Post, 18 Apr. 2023 So much attention still focuses on the American and European expat literati that gave the place its slightly seedy, counterculture reputation. Graham H. Cornwell, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2023 Advertisement There have been three prominent murderers who were released after high-profile interventions by the well-meaning literati, whether conservative or liberal. John J. Lennon, The New York Review of Books, 9 Mar. 2023 But being decried by smug East Coast literati, the sort of elites McCormick had famously blamed for America’s ills with a parochialism inherited by some successors, could have been seen as a plus in Tribune Tower. Ron Grossman, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2023 The inaugural Santa Fe Literary Festival (SFLF) will run from May 20 to 23, when notable literati from around the country will descend on the destination to participate in an exchange of ideas about story writing and societal issues. Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 21 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'literati.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

obsolete Italian litterati, from Latin, plural of litteratus

First Known Use

1620, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of literati was in 1620

Dictionary Entries Near literati

Cite this Entry

“Literati.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literati. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!