Definition of "literature" in English

noun

1. The body of all written works.

2. The collected creative writing of a nation, people, group, or culture.

   • He’s studying English literature at university.
   • There’s a vast body of scientific literature on the subject.
   • classical literature
   • scientific literature
   • world literature

3. (usually preceded by the) All the papers, treatises, etc. published in academic journals on a particular subject.

4. Written fiction of a high standard.

   • 2008, Adam Cadre However, even “literary” science fiction rarely qualifies as literature, because it treats characters as sets of traits rather than as fully realized human beings with unique life stories.

5. (obsolete) Literacy; ability to read and write.