n.
Pronunciation: ' li-t( ə -)r ə - ˌ liz- ə m
Function: noun
Date: 1644
1 : adherence to the explicit substance of an idea or expression <biblical literalism >
2 : fidelity to observable fact : REALISM
– lit · er · al · ist \ -list \ noun
– lit · er · al · is · tic \ ˌ li-t( ə -)r ə - ' lis-tik \ adjective