literary criticism

noun

The study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of literature.

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lit critcriticism
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Meanings

nounliterary criticism (uncountable)
  1. uncountableliteratureThe study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of literature.

    In certain kinds of writing, particularly in art criticism and literary criticism, it is normal to come across long passages which are almost completely lacking in meaning.

    1946, George Orwell, Politics and the English Language

    Synonyms: lit crit

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation of literature.

Similar
lit crit

More synonyms by meaning

nouna written evaluation of a work of literature

Similar
criticism
Broader
writingwritten materialpiece of writing

nounthe informed analysis and evaluation of literature

Similar
lit crit
Broader
literary study
Also see
criticism

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 文學批評 /文学批评
  • 文學批評 /文学批评 (wénxué pīpíng)study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Czech literární kritika
  • literární kritikastudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Dutch literatuurkritiek, literaire kritiek
  • literatuurkritiekstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
  • literaire kritiekstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Finnish kirjallisuuskritiikki
  • kirjallisuuskritiikkistudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
French critique littéraire
  • critique littérairestudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
German Literaturkritik
  • Literaturkritikstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Hungarian irodalomkritika
  • irodalomkritikastudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Irish critic liteartha
  • critic litearthastudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Persian نقد ادبی
  • نقد ادبیstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Polish krytyka literacka
  • krytyka literackastudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Romanian critică literară
  • critică literarăstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Russian литерату́рная кри́тика
  • литерату́рная кри́тика (literatúrnaja krítika)study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Scottish Gaelic breithneachadh-litreachais
  • breithneachadh-litreachaisstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Spanish crítica literaria
  • crítica literariastudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Swedish litteraturkritik
  • litteraturkritikstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Tagalog pamumunang pampanitikan
  • pamumunang pampanitikanstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Ukrainian літерату́рна кри́тика
  • літерату́рна кри́тика (literatúrna krýtyka)study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Vietnamese phê bình văn học
  • phê bình văn họcstudy, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Yiddish ליטעראַרישע קריטיק
  • ליטעראַרישע קריטיק (literarishe kritik)study, discussion, evaluation, and interpretation
Cite this entry
APA

literary criticism. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/literary%20criticism

MLA

“literary criticism.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/literary%20criticism. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “literary criticism,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/literary%20criticism.

Source: literary criticism on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.