literature

word

/ˈɫɪtɝətʃɝ/
LI-tuh-ruh-chur
/lˈɪtɹɪtʃɐ/
LI-truh-chuh

Definition

Literature is written work that is valued as art, such as novels, poems, and plays. It can also mean books and articles written about a particular subject.

Usage & Nuances

Often uncountable when talking about the general field: 'I study literature.' For the meaning of academic material on a topic, it is also usually uncountable: 'the literature on climate change.' Common collocations include 'classic literature,' 'modern literature,' and 'literary criticism.'

Example Sentences

She studies literature at university.

basic

I like reading Japanese literature.

basic

The teacher gave us some literature about the course.

basic

Her taste in literature is pretty broad—she reads everything from Shakespeare to sci-fi.

natural

There’s a lot of literature on this topic if you want to dig deeper.

natural

He’s really into Russian literature lately.

natural