What does "literature" mean?
The body of all written works.
Literature
/ˈlɪt.ɚ.ə.t͡ʃɚ/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The body of all written works.
- Grammar: literature is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: academic sources, ancient literature, article, autograph.
- Useful contrasts: oral sources, oral tradition.
- Usage evidence: Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or a picture or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.
How to use "literature"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "literature" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "literature" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "literature" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "literature" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "literature" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "academic sources" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "literature", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The body of all written works. uncountable, usually
- 2 the profession or art of a writer wordnet
- 3 The collected creative writing of a nation, people, group, or culture. uncountable, usually
"He’s studying English literature at university."
- 4 the humanistic study of a body of literature wordnet
- 5 All the papers, treatises, etc. published in academic journals on a particular subject. uncountable, usually
"The obvious question to ask at this point is: ‘Why posit the existence of a set of Thematic Relations (THEME, AGENT, INSTRUMENT, etc.) distinct from constituent structure relations?ʼ The answer given in the relevant literature is that a variety of linguistic phenomena can be accounted for in a more principled way in terms of Thematic Functions than in terms of constituent structure relations."
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 creative writing of recognized artistic value wordnet
- 7 Written fiction of a high standard. uncountable, usually
"2008, Adam Cadre However, even “literary” science fiction rarely qualifies as literature, because it treats characters as sets of traits rather than as fully realized human beings with unique life stories."
- 8 published writings in a particular style on a particular subject wordnet
- 9 Literacy; ability to read and write. obsolete, uncountable, usually
"They all assumed to be mighty rakish and knowing, they were not very tidy in their private dresses, they were not at all orderly in their domestic arrangements, and the combined literature of the whole company would have produced but a poor letter on any subject."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
oral sourcesoral tradition
Example
"Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or a picture or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "literature"?
Common synonyms include: academic sources, ancient literature, article, autograph, belles lettres, belles-lettres.
How do you use "literature" in a sentence?
Every man's work, whether it be literature or music or a picture or architecture or anything else, is always a portrait of himself.
How do you pronounce "literature"?
Pronounced /ˈlɪt.ɚ.ə.t͡ʃɚ/.
Etymology
From Middle English literature, from Old French littérature, from Latin literatura or litteratura, from littera (“letter”), from Etruscan, from Ancient Greek διφθέρᾱ (diphthérā, “tablet”). Displaced native Old English bōccræft.