literal meaning and definition

LITERAL noun

Definition of literal (noun)

1. a mistake in printed matter resulting from mechanical failures of some kind
   • synonyms: erratum, literal error, misprint, typo, typographical error

LITERAL adjective

Definition of literal (adjective)

1. 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"
   • synonyms: actual, genuine, real
2. without interpretation or embellishment
   • "a literal depiction of the scene before him"
3. limited to the explicit meaning of a word or text
   • "a literal translation"
   • antonym: figurative
4. avoiding embellishment or exaggeration (used for emphasis)
   • "it's the literal truth"