literature

[lit-er-uh-cher, -choor, li-truh-] / ˈlɪt ər ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, ˈlɪ trə- /

NOUN

written matter, both fictional and nonfictional

Synonyms

STRONGEST

article biography brochure composition drama essay history information leaflet lore novel pamphlet poetry prose research story

STRONG

abstract belles-lettres books classics comment critique discourse discussion disquisition dissertation exposition findings humanities letters lit observation paper report summary theme thesis tract treatise treatment writings

WEAK

literary works précis written work

Antonyms

STRONGEST

ignorance

STRONG

quiet silence

WEAK

speech

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Reform councillor Mike Bannister confirmed there was "no indication whatsoever" that staff had promoted specific literature and promised that the new policy would be "fully discussed" with the libraries team.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Drawing from these encounters and from what little clinical and behavioral literature she was able to find on the subject, Ms. Carr uses her book to explore the prismatic nature of sibling relationships.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 9, 2026

Between March and October 2023, Mikheil Z. went to the BnF 40 times to request access to manuscripts, mainly by Pushkin, claiming he was doing research on democracy in 19th-century Russian literature.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

I make it a point to introduce my students to the literature of their home state, which includes Joan Didion, a standby and giant of what we now call creative nonfiction.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026

“It was a horse-drawn cart. Donated by a Victorian merchant named George Moore to ‘diffuse good literature among the rural population.’”

From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein

Vocabulary lists containing literature

St. Patrick's Day Vocabulary: Words With Irish and Gaelic Roots

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

TEKS ELAR Academic Vocabulary List (5th-7th grades)

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

National Librarian Day

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!