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.

“And it’s been really fun because you need a Ph.D. in literature to tell it what to do.”

From Salon • Apr. 17, 2026

To be clear, both are reasonable reads of the literature, but the reporters would write different stories because of how the A.I. decided to order the same information.

From Slate • Apr. 17, 2026

The First Amendment doesn’t forbid objective teaching about the role of faith in history, literature and civic life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

She holds a PhD in creative writing and literature from USC.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

This year, Momma decided to go back to school to get her master’s in English literature.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée

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!