literal
1 of 2adjective
lit·er·al ˈli-t(ə-)rəl 
1
a
: according with the letter of the scriptures
adheres to a literal reading of the passage
b
: adhering to fact or to the ordinary construction or primary meaning of a term or expression : actual
liberty in the literal sense is impossible
B. N. Cardozo
B. N. Cardozo c
: free from exaggeration or embellishment
the literal truth
d
: characterized by a concern mainly with facts
a very literal man
2
: of, relating to, or expressed in letters
The distress signal SOS has no literal meaning.
3
: reproduced word for word : exact, verbatim
a literal translation
literality
ˌli-tə-ˈra-lə-tē
noun literalness
ˈli-t(ə-)rəl-nəs
noun literal
2 of 2noun
: a small error usually of a single letter (as in writing)
Synonyms
Adjective
- documentary
- factual
- hard
- historical
- matter-of-fact
- nonfictional
- objective
- true
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective I was using the word in its literal sense. The literal meaning of “know your ropes” is “to know a lot about ropes,” while figuratively it means “to know a lot about how to do something.” a literal translation of a book The story he told was basically true, even if it wasn't the literal truth.
Recent Examples on the Web Faran Krentcil, ELLE, 17 Sep. 2022 In the case of the literal metro — as in the train — safety and, more importantly, perceptions of safety, have everything to do with stations that feel isolated from the city in purpose and design. Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 But in historical fiction, the aim is to capture a story, so fidelity to literal facts and timelines is not always the goal. Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2022 After the intense, electric urban energy of Bangkok, Krabi — a southern province on Thailand’s Andaman Sea — was a literal breath of fresh air. Lily Radziemski, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Clearly, this light pollution had literal life-or-death stakes. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 The toppings: a literal heap of Italian sausage, pepperoni, and bacon; mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan cheeses; and red sauce. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2022 Hecklers disrupted proceedings with shouts and taunts, councilors traded verbal barbs, and a literal brawl erupted outside the council chamber after the public was ejected from the meeting because of the interruptions. Danny Mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The schedule includes everything from Christmas markets and historic home tours to a literal lobster trap Christmas tree lighting. Hannah Jeon, Good Housekeeping, 14 Sep. 2022 Jennifer Senior, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2022 Tony’s asphyxiation of Christopher makes the metaphorical literal. Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2021 See More
Adjective
What: Fashion with a capital F, as everyone took turns posing next to Saks mannequins and a literal tower of champagne cascading from the restaurant entrance. Faran Krentcil, ELLE, 17 Sep. 2022 In the case of the literal metro — as in the train — safety and, more importantly, perceptions of safety, have everything to do with stations that feel isolated from the city in purpose and design. Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2022 But in historical fiction, the aim is to capture a story, so fidelity to literal facts and timelines is not always the goal. Emma Sarappo, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2022 After the intense, electric urban energy of Bangkok, Krabi — a southern province on Thailand’s Andaman Sea — was a literal breath of fresh air. Lily Radziemski, Washington Post, 16 Sep. 2022 Clearly, this light pollution had literal life-or-death stakes. Joshua Sokol, Scientific American, 16 Sep. 2022 The toppings: a literal heap of Italian sausage, pepperoni, and bacon; mozzarella, Romano, and Parmesan cheeses; and red sauce. Ali Francis, Bon Appétit, 16 Sep. 2022 Hecklers disrupted proceedings with shouts and taunts, councilors traded verbal barbs, and a literal brawl erupted outside the council chamber after the public was ejected from the meeting because of the interruptions. Danny Mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2022 The schedule includes everything from Christmas markets and historic home tours to a literal lobster trap Christmas tree lighting. Hannah Jeon, Good Housekeeping, 14 Sep. 2022 Noun
David was contending with two friendship deaths—one literal, the other metaphorical. Jennifer Senior, The Atlantic, 9 Feb. 2022 Tony’s asphyxiation of Christopher makes the metaphorical literal. Matt Zoller Seitz, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective and Noun
Middle English, from Middle French, from Medieval Latin litteralis, from Latin, of a letter, from littera letter
First Known Use
Adjective
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Noun
1622, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing literal
Kids Definition
literal
adjective
lit·er·al ˈli-tə-rəl
1
: following the ordinary or usual meaning of the words
I'm using the word in its literal, not figurative, sense.
2
: true to fact
She gave a literal account of what she saw.
literality
noun
as in literalness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- literalness
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- imagination
- fantasy
- originality
- creativity
- invention
- contrivance
- inventiveness
- phantasy
- fancy
- ideation
- inspiration
- imaginativeness
- fertility
- fecundity
- brainstorming
- brainstorm