bookish

book·ish

adj \ˈbu̇-kish\

Definition of BOOKISH

1

a : of or relating to books b : fond of books and reading

2

a : inclined to rely on book knowledge b of words : literary and formal as opposed to colloquial and informal c : given to literary or scholarly pursuits; also : affectedly learned

— book·ish·ly adverb

— book·ish·ness noun

Examples of BOOKISH

1. Their teacher was a bookish fellow.
2. <“fealty” is a bookish synonym for “loyalty”>

First Known Use of BOOKISH

1566

Related to BOOKISH

Synonyms: erudite, learned, literary

Antonyms: colloquial, nonliterary, unbookish

Related Words: academic (also academical), donnish, inkhorn, pedantic, scholastic; belletristic (also belle-lettristic); highbrow, highbrowed, intellectual; educated, schooled; elevated, eloquent, formal, high-flown, lofty, majestic, stately, towering; bombastic, declamatory, florid, flowery, grandiloquent, highfalutin (also hifalutin), pompous, stilted

Near Antonyms: chatty, conversational; familiar, informal; slangy; illiterate

[+]more[-]hide