1. Relating to literature: This is the most common meaning. "Literary" refers to anything connected to writing, especially creative writing like novels, poems, plays, and essays.
* Examples: "She has a strong literary background," "He won a literary award," "The literary world is buzzing about the new book."
2. Of high artistic quality: "Literary" can also be used to describe something that is considered to be of high quality in terms of its style, language, and craftsmanship.
* Examples: "His writing is highly literary," "The book has a strong literary voice," "The film adaptation stayed true to the literary source material."
3. Concerned with language and style: "Literary" can also refer to the analysis and interpretation of language, style, and technique in written works.
* Examples: "The essay explores the literary devices used in the poem," "She is a literary scholar," "They had a lively discussion about the literary merit of the play."
4. Relating to the production or distribution of books: "Literary" can also refer to the industry surrounding books, such as publishing houses, booksellers, and libraries.
* Examples: "The literary agent negotiated a great deal for the author," "The bookstore carries a wide selection of literary classics," "The literary festival was a huge success."
It's important to consider the context to determine the specific meaning of "literary" in any given sentence.