man of letters

noun phrase

Synonyms of man of lettersnext
1
: scholar
2
: author

Examples of man of letters in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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One of France’s most eminent men of letters, Jean d’Ormesson is on excellent form in this ambitious historical novel. — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 There was a prefatory letter by Archibald MacLeish, a professor at Harvard and a former Librarian of Congress, and an introduction by Mark Schorer, a professor of English at Berkeley, along with blurbs from other eminent men of letters. — Louis Menand, New Yorker, 1 June 2026 Mann has been invited to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Goethe, Germany’s greatest man of letters. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 15 May 2026 Prestigious man of letters Sheridan Whiteside (Monty Woolley) spills down the snowy front steps at the home of a small-town family, the Stanleys — where he's planned a promo dinner in Mesalia, Ohio, right around the holidays. — Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for man of letters

Word History

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of man of letters was in 1645

Rhymes for man of letters

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Browse Nearby Words

man of law
man of letters
man of parts
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Cite this Entry

“Man of letters.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/man%20of%20letters. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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