Definition

Noun 1. The literary intelligentsia: A collective term for people who are well-educated, knowledgeable, and interested in literature, the arts, and intellectual pursuits. It refers to a social class or group recognized for its learning and cultural engagement.

Usage

The word "literati" is a plural noun used to refer to a group of learned people, especially those involved with literature and critical thought. It is often used in formal or academic contexts to describe an educated elite.

Examples

• The salon was a gathering place for the city's literati, where poets, philosophers, and critics debated new ideas.
• His controversial novel was both praised and condemned by the literati.
• The magazine's editorial board is composed of the leading literati of our generation.

Advanced Usage

• The term can sometimes carry a slightly ironic or critical connotation, implying a group that is insular, elitist, or overly concerned with intellectual fashion.
  • His work was ignored by the mainstream literati but found a passionate audience with the general public.

Variants and Related Words

• Literatus (noun, singular, rare): A single member of the literati. (Example: )
• Intelligentsia (noun): The intellectual elite of a society, often engaged in critical thinking and cultural leadership. (This is a broader term that includes the literati.)
• Cognoscenti (noun): People who are especially well-informed about a particular subject, especially in the arts. (This can overlap with "literati" but is more specific to expert knowledge.)

Synonyms

• Intellectuals
• The learned
• Savants
• Highbrows (can be informal and sometimes derogatory)

Antonyms

• Philistines (people who are indifferent or hostile to culture and the arts)
• The unlettered

Idioms and Related Phrases

• The chattering classes: (Informal, often slightly derogatory) A phrase referring to educated people who comment on politics and society, especially in the media. This can overlap with the concept of the literati but focuses more on opinion and commentary than purely literary achievement.

Noun

1. the literary intelligentsia