LITERARY

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does literary mean? 

• LITERARY (adjective)
  The adjective LITERARY has 3 senses:

1. of or relating to or characteristic of literature

2. knowledgeable about literature

3. appropriate to literature rather than everyday speech or writing

  Familiarity information: LITERARY used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LITERARY (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to or characteristic of literature

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

literary criticism

Pertainym:

literature (creative writing of recognized artistic value)

Derivation:

literature (creative writing of recognized artistic value)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Knowledgeable about literature

Context example:

a literary style

Similar:

literate (versed in literature; dealing with literature)

Derivation:

literature (the humanistic study of a body of literature)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Appropriate to literature rather than everyday speech or writing

Context example:

when trying to impress someone she spoke in an affected literary style

Similar:

formal ((of spoken and written language) adhering to traditional standards of correctness and without casual, contracted, and colloquial forms)

 Context examples 

Martin's literary judgments were wrong because he could not sell his wares.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

She won't think so when she has a literary husband, and a dozen little professors and professorins to support.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

I suppose you know a bit about literary things? Eh? Good.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

You have moral and literary tastes in common.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Clerval had never sympathised in my tastes for natural science; and his literary pursuits differed wholly from those which had occupied me.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Interesting philosophical ideas and concepts and debating literary and political questions interest me more!

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The idea of Louisa Musgrove turned into a person of literary taste, and sentimental reflection was amusing, but she had no doubt of its being so.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

A master's degree in an area of visual, literary or performing arts typically requiring two to three years of study beyond the bachelor level.

(Master of Fine Arts, NCI Thesaurus)

He is a lecturer and a consultant, but he does not care for general practice, which distracts him from his literary work.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

"Don't be literary," she pouted, with growing tenderness. "I never did like epigrammatic discussion. Besides, I'm not afraid to ask you to forgive me."

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)