literary fiction

English

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/, /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹɛɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/

Noun

literary fiction (uncountable)

1. Any work of fiction regarded as having literary merit.

   Antonym: popular fiction

   I don't think "A is for Apple" qualifies as literary fiction.

   • 2014 January 30, Geir Farner, Literary Fiction: The Ways We Read Narrative Literature‎^[1], Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 29:

     The present book is mainly about literary fiction, because this is where the confusion is most profound, but in some contexts it may be useful or interesting to include non-fiction.

2. Fiction lacking speculative elements and centred on character and theme.

   Antonyms: speculative fiction, genre fiction

   While she usually reads science fiction, she also enjoys literary fiction.

   • 2018 September 14, Robert Lee Brewer, editor, Guide to Literary Agents 2019: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published‎^[2], F+W Media, →ISBN, page 355:

     We represent works in a wide range of categories, with an emphasis on literary fiction, outstanding thriller and crime fiction, and serious narrative nonfiction.

   • 2023 November 11, Madison Darbyshire, “Hot stuff”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 9:

     It could be argued that Sally Rooney writes romance stories, although she's classified as literary fiction.

Usage notes

• Both senses may overlap somewhat, as the traditional conception of literarily meritorious fiction (sense 1) requires works to lack speculative elements and centre on character and theme (sense 2).

Derived terms

• litfic