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Definition and meaning of English word "literature"

literature

/ˈlɪtrətʃər/

Meaning

Noun

The body of all written works.

Reviewed by the TheLernen language team

How to use

The term 'literature' is commonly used in academic and formal contexts to refer to the collective body of written works, often with a focus on those that are considered to have artistic, intellectual, or cultural significance. A notable grammatical nuance is that 'literature' is an uncountable noun, which can lead to errors such as using it in plural form or with indefinite articles. For instance, it's incorrect to say 'a literature' or 'many literatures,' instead, one should say 'a piece of literature' or 'a body of literature.'

🇬🇧 English

literature

Example

It is important to keep the literature in a safe place.

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Synonyms

writingliterary worksbibliography

Common phrases

  • world literatureworld literature
  • English literatureEnglish literature
  • children's literaturechildren's literature

Frequency rank: #1149 in English

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does the English word "literature" mean?

The English word "literature" means "literature" in English.

How do you pronounce the English word "literature"?

You can hear the correct audio pronunciation of the word "literature" by clicking the play button next to the word at the top of this page.

Can I see an example sentence with "literature"?

Yes, here is a practical example: "She chose a new literature yesterday." (which translates as "literature").

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