# literal

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəl/ · frequency rank #10,077

## Definitions
1. Exactly as stated; read or understood without interpretation; according to the letter; not figurative or metaphorical; following the letter or exact words; not taking liberties; etymonic rather than idiomatic.
2. Actual, real, physical.
3. That which generally assumes that the plainest reading of a given text is correct but which allows for metaphor where context indicates it.
4. Following the historical-grammatical method of biblical interpretation.
5. Consisting of, or expressed by, letters (of an alphabet); using literation.
6. Unimaginative; matter-of-fact; literal-minded.
7. Used nonliterally as an intensifier. See literally for usage notes.
8. Misspelling of littoral.

## Etymology
From Middle English literal, from Old French literal, from Late Latin litteralis or literalis (“of or pertaining to letters or to writing”), from Latin littera or litera (“a letter”). See letter.

## Easily confused with
- **literary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literal-vs-literary)
- **literate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literal-vs-literate)
- **littoral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literal-vs-littoral)
- **literally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literal-vs-literally)
- **liter** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liter-vs-literal)
- **liberal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liberal-vs-literal)
- **lateral** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/lateral-vs-literal)
- **literacy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literacy-vs-literal)

## Common misspellings (10)
`ilteral`, `lietral`, `litearl`, `literall`, `literla`, `literral`, `litreal`, `litteral`, `lliteral`, `ltieral`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/literal