textual

American  

[teks-choo-uhl] / ˈtɛks tʃu əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a text.

   textual errors.

2. based on or conforming to the text, as of the Scriptures.

   a textual interpretation of the Bible.

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textual British  

/ ˈtɛkstjʊəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to a text or texts

2. based on or conforming to a text

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Other Word Forms

• intertextual adjective
• intertextually adverb
• nontextual adjective
• nontextually adverb
• textually adverb
• untextual adjective
• untextually adverb

Etymology

Origin of textual

1350–1400; Middle English < Medieval Latin textu ( s ) ( see text) + -al ¹; replacing Middle English textuel < Middle French < Medieval Latin, as above

Explanation

Anything textual has to do with writing. A textual analysis, comparison, or interpretation, has something to do with what is in a particular piece of writing (or text). Textual comes from the Latin word textualis, the adjective form of textus, ("text"). If you see the word, it is always related to some written material. This word is most commonly used in the study of religion, literature, philosophy, or the law — any field requiring the careful examination of various texts. A textual tattoo is one that features writing instead of an image.

Example Sentences

“The courts are wearing blinders and just focusing on the plain language of the statute. It’s a textual analysis,” he says.

From Barron's • Apr. 15, 2026

The New York Times analysis relies heavily on textual analysis of old emails and posts, and in particular incorrect hyphen usage and British spelling.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 8, 2026

Curiously, this was not a prevailing gripe about “Frankenstein,” despite del Toro changing the ending, altering the inciting events of the Creature’s creation and adding new characters while changing the textual behavior of key others.

From Salon • Feb. 23, 2026

Tolkien’s world thus existed in the form of a “massive textual archive,” producing a “sense that the world extends both temporally and physically beyond the text.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025

All of this is a salutary lesson in the way tottering edifices of theology can be built on a small textual misunderstanding.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith