illiterate

[ih-lit-er-it]

adjective

1. unable to read and write.

   an illiterate group.

2. having or demonstrating very little or no education.

3. showing lack of culture, especially in language and literature.

4. displaying a marked lack of knowledge in a particular field.

   He is musically illiterate.

noun

1. an illiterate person.

illiterate

/ ɪˈlɪtərɪt /

adjective

1. unable to read and write

2. violating accepted standards in reading and writing

   an illiterate scrawl

3. uneducated, ignorant, or uncultured

   scientifically illiterate

noun

1. an illiterate person

Other Word Forms

• illiterately adverb
• illiteracy noun
• illiterateness noun
• semi-illiterate adjective
• semi-illiterately adverb
• semi-illiterateness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of illiterate¹

First recorded in 1550–60, illiterate is from the Latin word illiterātus unlettered. See il- ², literate

Synonym Study

See ignorant.

Example Sentences

More than once, Sundari gets to school Param and his friend about their assumptions about her state – in one instance, throwing bias back at them about "ignorant, illiterate, arrogant, entitled" north Indians.

From BBC

A high number of pupils at the secondary school are "functionally illiterate", meaning they have a reading age well below average when they start Year 7.

From BBC

In the novel, Franklin D. Roosevelt loses the Democratic presidential nomination to Buzz Windrip, who is described as “vulgar, almost illiterate, a public liar easily discredited,” but wins the election in a landslide.

From Salon

Only the math illiterate would continue to present this as a mandate.

From Salon

You would have to be culturally illiterate to be unfamiliar with Michael Jordan.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• ignorant 
• uneducated