Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Avoiding embellishment or exaggeration: Refers to something stated in a completely factual and straightforward way, without any added detail or dramatic effect. Often used for emphasis.
   • Limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text: Describes the most basic, original, or dictionary meaning of a word, as opposed to its figurative or metaphorical sense.
   • Being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something: Describes something that is true and accurate in substance, not merely in appearance.

2. Noun:

   • A mistake in printed matter: A technical term for an error, such as a misspelling or typographical mistake, that occurs during the printing process.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:

  • He meant his threat in a literal sense. (He genuinely intended to carry out the threat as stated.)
  • A literal translation of the idiom would be confusing. (A word-for-word translation does not convey the idiom's intended meaning.)
  • The movie is a literal adaptation of the novel. (The movie follows the novel's plot very closely and accurately.)
  • It was a literal desert, with no vegetation in sight. (It was a real, genuine desert.)

• Noun:

  • The first edition contained several embarrassing literals. (The first print run had several typographical errors.)

Advanced Usage

• "To take something literally": To interpret words in their most basic, factual sense, often missing implied or metaphorical meaning.
  • When I said I was "dying of boredom," I didn't mean you to take it literally.
• "The literal truth": The exact, unvarnished facts without any distortion.
  • He swore he was telling the literal truth about the event.

Variants and Related Words

• Literally (adverb): In a literal manner or sense; exactly. (Note: In informal use, it is often used for emphasis, similar to "virtually" or "completely," though this is considered by some to be an incorrect usage.)
  • The city was literally destroyed by the earthquake. (Formal: The city was actually destroyed. Informal: The city was very severely damaged.)
• Literalness (noun): The quality of being literal.
  • The literalness of his interpretation made the poem seem dull.

Synonyms

• Adjective: Factual, exact, verbatim, word-for-word, true, actual, genuine, plain, unembellished.
• Noun: Typo, misprint, erratum, error.

Antonyms

• Adjective: Figurative, metaphorical, symbolic, exaggerated, embellished, loose, implied.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Literal-minded": Tending to interpret words in a strict, factual way, often lacking imagination or missing nuances.
  • His literal-minded response showed he didn't understand the joke.

Adjective

1. avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis)
   • it's the literal truth
2. limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
   • a literal translation
3. without interpretation or embellishment
   • a literal depiction of the scene before him
4. being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something
   • her actual motive
   • a literal solitude like a desert- G.K.Chesterton
   • a genuine dilemma

Noun

1. a mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind