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
Example Sentences
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? See More
Recent Examples on the Web Teens and teachers will especially love the Texas Teen Book Festival featuring conversations with authors of young adult literature. Anna Mazurek, Chron, 12 Sep. 2022 To be sure, the familiar conventions of romance literature are here in abundance: the aristocratic curled lip, the languid glance, sparkling eyes and a middle-aged blue-blood roué reformed by a plucky young woman. Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 Lambert allegedly disliked his English literature tutor, C.S. Lewis, and dropped out of university after a year. Deborah Eisenberg, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022 Konstanty comes up and thanks me, too, then heads off to drink with his brother, a literature student back in Wroclaw. WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022 The national course syllabus has been tweaked, as well: more Ukrainian history in history classes; and, in world literature, out with the likes of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, in with Hemingway and Jack London. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2022 In a literature survey of 15 reports, 14 of the cases occurred here. Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2022 In time, Prudhomme was joined in the history of dubious literature Nobels by Rudolf Eucken, Paul Heyse, Władysław Reymont, Erik Axel Karlfeldt, Verner von Heidenstam, Winston Churchill, Pearl S. Buck, and Dario Fo. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 On the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, the center was founded in 1980 by Aaron Lansky, a 24-year-old graduate student of Yiddish literature. Ethel G. Hofman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2022 See More
Anna Mazurek, Chron, 12 Sep. 2022 To be sure, the familiar conventions of romance literature are here in abundance: the aristocratic curled lip, the languid glance, sparkling eyes and a middle-aged blue-blood roué reformed by a plucky young woman. Katherine A. Powers, Washington Post, 10 Sep. 2022 Lambert allegedly disliked his English literature tutor, C.S. Lewis, and dropped out of university after a year. Deborah Eisenberg, The New York Review of Books, 7 Sep. 2022 Konstanty comes up and thanks me, too, then heads off to drink with his brother, a literature student back in Wroclaw. WIRED, 2 Sep. 2022 The national course syllabus has been tweaked, as well: more Ukrainian history in history classes; and, in world literature, out with the likes of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, in with Hemingway and Jack London. Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2022 In a literature survey of 15 reports, 14 of the cases occurred here. Carolyn Barber, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2022 In time, Prudhomme was joined in the history of dubious literature Nobels by Rudolf Eucken, Paul Heyse, Władysław Reymont, Erik Axel Karlfeldt, Verner von Heidenstam, Winston Churchill, Pearl S. Buck, and Dario Fo. David Remnick, The New Yorker, 28 Aug. 2022 On the campus of Hampshire College in Amherst, the center was founded in 1980 by Aaron Lansky, a 24-year-old graduate student of Yiddish literature. Ethel G. Hofman, Sun Sentinel, 26 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin litteratura writing, grammar, learning, from litteratus
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 4
Phrases Containing literature
Kids Definition
literature
noun
lit·er·a·ture ˈli-tə-rə-ˌchu̇r
1
: written works considered as having high quality and ideas of lasting and widespread interest
2
: written material I read some travel literature before my vacation.