Definition of literal
(Entry 1 of 2)
1a
: according with the letter of the scriptures
adheres to a literal reading of the passage
b
: adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression : actual
liberty in the literal sense is impossible— B. N. Cardozo
c
: free from exaggeration or embellishment
the literal truth
d
: characterized by a concern mainly with facts
a very literal man
2
: of, relating to, or expressed in letters
The distress signal SOS has no literal meaning.
literal
nounDefinition of literal (Entry 2 of 2)
: a small error usually of a single letter (as in writing)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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Time Traveler for literal
The first known use of literal was in the 14th century
See more words from the same century