literature

noun

lit·​er·​a·​ture ˈli-tə-rə-ˌchu̇r 

ˈli-trə-ˌchu̇r,

ˈli-tər-ˌchu̇r,

ˈli-tə-,

-chər,

-ˌtyu̇r,

-ˌtu̇r 

1

a(1)

: writings in prose or verse

especially : writings having excellence of form or expression and expressing ideas of permanent or universal interest

literature stands related to man as science stands to nature

—J. H. Newman

(2)

: an example of such writings

what came out, though rarely literature, was always a roaring good story

—People

b

: the body of writings on a particular subject

scientific literature

c

: the body of written works produced in a particular language, country, or age

French literature

Renaissance literature

d

: printed matter (such as leaflets or circulars)

campaign literature

2

: the production of literary work especially as an occupation

Literature is his profession.

3

: the aggregate of a usually specified type of musical compositions

the Brahms piano literature

4

archaic : literary culture

Example Sentences

She took courses in history and literature.

Her education gave her an appreciation for great literature.

He's an expert in American literature.

the literature of the Renaissance

studies in different Asian literatures

Can you send me some literature about your product?

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Recent Examples on the Web

One will focus on the Harlem Renaissance, the Black cultural movement that influenced art, music and literature globally in the early 20th century. —Patrick Connolly, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Feb. 2023

Jehovah’s Witnesses assemble on street corners around city hall, offering passersby copies of their literature. —Reis Thebault, Washington Post, 27 Jan. 2023

To do so, Johnson and Zolman scour scientific literature and use Johnson as a guinea pig for promising treatments. —Valerie Nome, Peoplemag, 27 Jan. 2023

Researchers fear that in 2023, educators and librarians may be forced to censor their literature, self-censor their curriculum to avoid backlash and more. —Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 12 Jan. 2023

Dylan has done nothing less than treating these songs, many of them obscure, as modern texts, and has dug deeply into them, in precisely the way that Jews are accustomed to treating our sacred literature. —The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Dec. 2022

Native American culture is not a monolith, and neither is its literature. —Mary Cadden, USA TODAY, 26 Nov. 2022

One of the best ways to learn about a locale is through its literature. —Katherine J. Igoe, New York Times, 25 Oct. 2022

In our literature, cutting the hair is a symbol of mourning, and sometimes a symbol of protesting. —Carrie Wittmer, Glamour, 5 Oct. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin litteratura writing, grammar, learning, from litteratus

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4

Phrases Containing literature

• gray literature

• gray literature

Kids Definition

literature

noun

lit·​er·​a·​ture ˈlit-ə-rə-ˌchu̇(ə)r  ˈli-trə- 

-chər

1

: written works having excellence of form or expression and ideas of lasting and widespread interest

2

: written material (as of a period or on a subject)