textual

adjective

tex·​tu·​al ˈteks-chə-wəl 

-chəl

: of, relating to, or based on a text

textuality

ˌteks-chə-ˈwa-lə-tē 

noun

textually adverb

Did you know?

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

Screen readers for people with blind/low vision disabilities need textual information on image’s visual details. —Toby Wong, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

At the very least, the staff reasoned, Jews could ground themselves in collective textual interpretation. —Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 9 Sep. 2024

As a matter of textual interpretation, this holding makes no sense. —Li Zhou, Vox, 4 Sep. 2024

There’s no commentary, no talking heads, no textual information, no reflection on his triumphs even from Roca Rey, whose face, for the most part, remains a stoic mask. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 28 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English textuel, from Medieval Latin textus text

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing textual

• textual critic
• textual criticism

Kids Definition

textual

adjective

tex·​tu·​al ˈteks-chə(-wə)l 

: of, relating to, or based on a text

textuality

ˌteks-chə-ˈwal-ət-ē

noun

textually

ˈtek-chə-(wə)l-ē

adverb