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

Examples of literature in a Sentence

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?

Recent Examples on the Web

And, of course, in the literature of the West, the Iliad and the Odyssey unfurl the proud banner of patriarchal order. —David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026

Students who entered college eager to study literature or history sometimes abandoned those fields because classrooms became places of discomfort rather than intellectual growth. —Marybeth Gasman, Forbes.com, 21 June 2026

Among other things, those nonprofits and shell corporations who do not disclose their donors should be required to do so and ads and campaign literature should be required to disclose the names of the principal donors behind the entities purportedly sponsoring them. —Richard J. Davis, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026

They weren’t handed any literature. —Mac Engel june 18, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 June 2026

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

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)