View synonyms for

literal

[ lit-er-uhl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

in accordance with, involving, or being the primary or strict meaning of the word or words; not figurative or metaphorical:
the literal meaning of a word.
following the words of the original very closely and exactly:
a literal translation of Goethe.
true to fact; not exaggerated; actual or factual:
a literal description of conditions.
Synonyms: , ,
being actually such, without exaggeration or inaccuracy:
the literal extermination of a city.
(of persons) tending to construe words in the strict sense or in an unimaginative way; matter-of-fact; prosaic.
of or relating to the letters of the alphabet.
of the nature of letters.
expressed by letters.
affecting a letter or letters:
a literal error.

literal

/ ˈlɪtərəl; ˌlɪtəˈrælɪtɪ /

in exact accordance with or limited to the primary or explicit meaning of a word or text
word for word
dull, factual, or prosaic
consisting of, concerning, or indicated by letters
true; actual
maths containing or using coefficients and constants represented by letters: ax² + b is a literal expression Compare numerical

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Origin of literal¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin ��ٳٱ�� “of letters.” See letter ¹, -al ¹

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Origin of literal¹

C14: from Late Latin ��ٳٱ�� concerning letters, from Latin littera letter

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Examples have not been reviewed.

For them, “Trump bucks” would be a literal lifeline.

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Our neighbors and co-workers have risen up around us, picking us up out of the literal and figurative ashes.

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I want a rewrite of "Just A Girl," but about that rather literal definition of feminine receptivity.

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At her age, I was learning how to count coins and save for a toy with literal dollar bills.

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Pole teaches you that in a very literal way but also in a mental way.

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