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
Medical literature is proliferating at a meteoric rate—doubling in size every five years—as new treatment options like gene therapies are developed and scientists learn more about how different diseases and drugs may interact with each other.
—Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Her declaration echoes Huck Finn’s desire to light out for the territories, but Lulu was one of the first women in twentieth century literature to make a similar proclamation.
—Deborah Williams
july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Many of them eagerly enrolled in William Eric Waters’s class on African American literature, in addition to correspondence courses during the pandemic on the Nat Turner slave rebellion and the 1791 Haitian revolution.
—Brooke Allen, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
Morgan is attuned to this subtlety and to the parallels to be found in Afrikaans literature.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for literature
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Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 15 July 2025
Her declaration echoes Huck Finn’s desire to light out for the territories, but Lulu was one of the first women in twentieth century literature to make a similar proclamation.
—Deborah Williams
july 14, Literary Hub, 14 July 2025
Many of them eagerly enrolled in William Eric Waters’s class on African American literature, in addition to correspondence courses during the pandemic on the Nat Turner slave rebellion and the 1791 Haitian revolution.
—Brooke Allen, New Yorker, 12 July 2025
Morgan is attuned to this subtlety and to the parallels to be found in Afrikaans literature.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for literature
Cite this Entry
“Literature.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literature. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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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