literary fiction

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹəɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/, /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈlɪt(ə)ɹɛɹi ˌfɪk(t)ʃən/

literary fiction (uncountable)

1. Any work of fiction regarded as having literary merit.

   Antonym: popular fiction

   I don't think "A is for Apple" qualifies as literary fiction.

   • 2014 January 30, Geir Farner, Literary Fiction: The Ways We Read Narrative Literature‎, Bloomsbury Publishing, →ISBN, page 29:

     The present book is mainly about literary fiction, because this is where the confusion is most profound, but in some contexts it may be useful or interesting to include non-fiction.

2. Fiction lacking speculative elements and centred on character and theme.

   Antonyms: speculative fiction, genre fiction

   While she usually reads science fiction, she also enjoys literary fiction.

   • 2018 September 14, Robert Lee Brewer, editor, Guide to Literary Agents 2019: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published‎, F+W Media, →ISBN, page 355:

     We represent works in a wide range of categories, with an emphasis on literary fiction, outstanding thriller and crime fiction, and serious narrative nonfiction.

   • 2023 November 11, Madison Darbyshire, “Hot stuff”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 9:

     It could be argued that Sally Rooney writes romance stories, although she's classified as literary fiction.

• Both senses may overlap somewhat, as the traditional conception of literarily meritorious fiction (sense 1) requires works to lack speculative elements and centre on character and theme (sense 2).

• litfic