literary

UK: /ˈlɪt^ərəri/ US: /ˈlɪtəˌrɛri/ ,(lit′ə rer′ē)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

lit•er•ar•y /ˈlɪtəˌrɛri/   adj. 

1. relating to or of the nature of books and writings, esp. those classed as literature:
   literary history.
2. educated;
   well-read:
   a literary person.

See -lit-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

lit•er•ar•y  (lit′ə rer′ē), adj. 

1. pertaining to or of the nature of books and writings, esp. those classed as literature:
   literary history.
2. pertaining to authorship:
   literary style.
3. versed in or acquainted with literature;
   well-read.
4. engaged in or having the profession of literature or writing:
   a literary man.
5. characterized by an excessive or affected display of learning;
   stilted;
   pedantic.
6. preferring books to actual experience;
   bookish.

• Latin līterārius, litterārius of reading and writing. See letter, -ary
• 1640–50

lit′er•ar′i•ly, adv. 
lit′er•ar′i•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

literary / ˈlɪtərərɪ ˈlɪtrərɪ/ adjective

1. of, relating to, concerned with, or characteristic of literature or scholarly writing: a literary discussion, a literary style
2. versed in or knowledgeable about literature
3. (of a word) formal; not colloquial

Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin litterārius concerning reading and writing. See letter

ˈliterarily adverb

ˈliterariness noun