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
J. H. Newman
(2)
: an example of such writings
What came out, though rarely literature, was always a roaring good story.—People
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
But Gernsback's innovation of collecting previously-diffuse bits of literature ruminating on scientific discovery or technological advancement in one place proved to be an idea with staying power. —Chris Klimek, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026 There’s also Title Wave Books in Anchorage, which houses one of the most extensive collections of Indigenous American literature in the country, and Nā Mea Hawai'i, whose collection tightens its scope to Hawaiian culture and history. —Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026 People have been called pedants since the early modern period—pedante is a fifteenth-century Italian coinage for a professional teacher of Latin literature and rhetoric—but have been acting pedantically for millennia. —Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026 But these unknown early writings suggest that he may be better understood as an immigrant writer—one of the gifted, ambivalent outsiders who remade American literature after World War II—whose most astonishing achievement was the all-American voice of On the Road and the books that came after. —Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for literature
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Chris Klimek, NPR, 25 Apr. 2026 There’s also Title Wave Books in Anchorage, which houses one of the most extensive collections of Indigenous American literature in the country, and Nā Mea Hawai'i, whose collection tightens its scope to Hawaiian culture and history. —Kat Chen, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Apr. 2026 People have been called pedants since the early modern period—pedante is a fifteenth-century Italian coinage for a professional teacher of Latin literature and rhetoric—but have been acting pedantically for millennia. —Clare Bucknell, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026 But these unknown early writings suggest that he may be better understood as an immigrant writer—one of the gifted, ambivalent outsiders who remade American literature after World War II—whose most astonishing achievement was the all-American voice of On the Road and the books that came after. —Literary Hub, 24 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for literature
Cite this Entry
“Literature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/literature. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
literature
noun
lit·er·a·ture ˈlit-ə-rə-ˌchu̇(ə)r ˈli-trə-
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)
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