textual

adjective

tex·​tu·​al ˈteks-chə-wəl How to pronounce textual (audio)
-chəl
: of, relating to, or based on a text
textuality
ˌteks-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē
noun
textually adverb

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Before the invention of the printing press, books were produced by hand. When the text of a book is copied this way, textual errors can creep in, and a text that's been copied again and again can contain many such errors. By comparing different copies of a work, textual critics try to figure out where the copyists went wrong and restore the text to its original form so that modern readers can again enjoy the correct versions of ancient texts. When a class performs textual analysis of a poem, however, they are looking closely at its individual words and phrases in an effort to determine the poem's meanings.

Examples of textual in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Caldwell says that while there’s scant textual evidence that describes actual surgical procedures from before Imperial Rome, the first-century-C.E. encyclopedist Aulus Cornelius Celsus does describe operations such as cutting for bladder stones and amputating limbs. Elizabeth Heath, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2024 Create illustrations, change video styles, or even compose music based on textual descriptions. Ian Shepherd, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for textual 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'textual.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English textuel, from Medieval Latin textus text

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of textual was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near textual

Cite this Entry

“Textual.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/textual. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

textual

adjective
tex·​tu·​al ˈteks-chə(-wə)l How to pronounce textual (audio)
: of, relating to, or based on a text
textuality
ˌteks-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē
noun
textually
ˈtek-chə-(wə)l-ē
adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on textual

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