literary

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈlɪtəɹɛ(ə)ɹi/ UK /ˈlɪtəɹəɹi/ See IPA manual

Freq #10186

Meanings

1

adj
Relating to literature or written works.

She won a major literary prize for her novel.
2

adj
Suited to formal writing rather than everyday speech.

He wrote in an elaborate literary style.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

bookly

Word family

Derived forms antiliterarycyberliteraryextraliteraryhyperliterarylego-literaryliterarilyliterarinessliteraristliteraryismlitrpgmetaliterarynonliterary

Related forms letter literacy literal literate literature

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Etymology

From French littéraire.

Topics

Describing Qualities Literature & Storytelling Register & Style

External links

# literary

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈlɪtəɹɛ(ə)ɹi/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈlɪtəɹəɹi/
**Frequency rank:** 10186

## Meanings
1. Relating to literature or written works.
2. Suited to formal writing rather than everyday speech.

## Examples
- She won a major literary prize for her novel.
- He wrote in an elaborate literary style.

## Synonyms
- bookly

## Derived Forms
- antiliterary
- cyberliterary
- extraliterary
- hyperliterary
- lego-literary
- literarily
- literariness
- literarist
- literaryism
- litrpg
- metaliterary
- nonliterary

## Related Forms
- letter
- literacy
- literal
- literate
- literature

## Etymology
From French littéraire.

## AI Etymology
Literary comes from French littéraire. In present-day English its meanings include relating to literature or written works and suited to formal writing rather than everyday speech. Related and derived forms include letter, literacy, literal, and antiliterary.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Literature & Storytelling
- Register & Style

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