Meaning & use

literature

noun·Academic

Written works, especially those considered to have artistic or lasting value, such as novels, poetry, and plays.

See it in a sentence

She majored in English literature and wrote her thesis on Victorian novels.

The professor assigned a wide range of literature from different countries and eras.

A note on using this word

In academic writing, 'the literature' refers to published research on a topic, not novels or poetry.

Words with a similar meaning

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Another way to use it

2. noun

Published material or research on a particular subject.

The scientific literature on the topic has grown rapidly over the last decade.

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