comparative literature

noun

The academic field dealing with the study of literature and cultural expression across linguistic, cultural and national boundaries.

Similar
comp. lit.comp litglobal literatureworld literature
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Meanings

nouncomparative literature (countable and uncountable, plural comparative literatures)

plural comparative literatures

  1. countableuncountableThe academic field dealing with the study of literature and cultural expression across linguistic, cultural and national boundaries.

    Synonyms: comp. lit., comp lit, global literature, world literature

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe academic field dealing with the study of literature and cultural expression across linguistic, cultural and national boundaries.

Similar
comp. lit.comp litglobal literatureworld literature

Translations

Afrikaans vergelykende letterkunde
  • vergelykende letterkundeacademic field dealing with the study of literature
Chinese Mandarin 比較文學 /比较文学
  • 比較文學 /比较文学 (bǐjiào wénxué)academic field dealing with the study of literature
Czech komparatistika
  • komparatistikaacademic field dealing with the study of literature
Finnish kirjallisuustiede
  • kirjallisuustiedeacademic field dealing with the study of literature
French littérature comparée
  • littérature comparéeacademic field dealing with the study of literature
German Komparatistik
  • Komparatistikacademic field dealing with the study of literature
Polish komparatystyka, literaturoznawstwo porównawcze
  • komparatystykaacademic field dealing with the study of literature
  • literaturoznawstwo porównawczeacademic field dealing with the study of literature
Portuguese literatura comparada
  • literatura comparadaacademic field dealing with the study of literature
Russian сравни́тельное литературове́дение
  • сравни́тельное литературове́дение (sravnítelʹnoje literaturovédenije)academic field dealing with the study of literature
Turkish edebiyat bilimi
  • edebiyat bilimiacademic field dealing with the study of literature
Cite this entry
APA

comparative literature. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comparative%20literature

MLA

“comparative literature.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comparative%20literature. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “comparative literature,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/comparative%20literature.

Source: comparative literature on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.