belletristic

B3E1L1L1E1T1R1I1S1T1I1C3
UK/bɛl.lɛˈtɹɪs.tɪk/

adjective

Of, pertaining to, or having the characteristics of belles-lettres.

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Scrabble 16

Meanings

adjectivebelletristic (comparative more belletristic, superlative most belletristic)

comparative more belletristic · superlative most belletristic

  1. Of, pertaining to, or having the characteristics of belles-lettres.

    The guest list was a roll call of belletristic London.

    2002, Joseph O'Connor, Star of the Sea, Vintage, published 2003, page 229
    1 more example

    […] if they do not owe their allegiance to shamanism or Buddhism, then most surely they commit themselves to some perverse form of Confucianism or belletristic foolishness.

    1986, Aizawa Seishisai (Translated by Bob Tadashi Wakabayashi), Anti-Foreignism and Western Learning in Early-Modern Japan: The New Theses of 1825, Harvard University Press, page 169
  2. Written or appreciated for aesthetic value rather than content

    I had already concluded that not one of my writings was publishable, having myself analyzed the faults of my belletristic production.

    1992, Isaac Bashevis Singer (Translated by Leonard Wolf), The Certificate, Farrar Straus Giroux, page 1

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivewritten and regarded for aesthetic value rather than content

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Also see

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

Translations

German belletristisch, schöngeistig
  • belletristischpertaining to belles-lettres
  • schöngeistigpertaining to belles-lettres
Hungarian szépirodalmi
  • szépirodalmipertaining to belles-lettres
Polish beletrystyczny
  • beletrystycznypertaining to belles-lettres
Cite this entry
APA

belletristic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/belletristic

MLA

“belletristic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/belletristic. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “belletristic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/belletristic.

Source: belletristic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.