lit.
Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary
| Stands for | Literally |
|---|---|
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
lit. stands for Literally, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.
Introduces the literal translation or word-for-word meaning of a foreign phrase or idiom, as in "coup d'état (lit. 'blow of state')." Etymologies and glossaries use it to show what the parts of a term mean.
Example: The German word Kindergarten (lit. "children's garden") was coined by Friedrich Froebel in 1840.
Usage notes
Writers pair lit. (literal meaning) with fig. (figurative meaning) when explaining idioms. In course names, the same letters abbreviate "literature," as in "Eng. lit." The intensifying use of "literally" to mean "virtually," recorded since the 18th century, appears in dictionaries but is disliked by many usage writers.