uneducated
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See ignorant.
Etymology
Origin of uneducated
Explanation
Being uneducated means not having attended much school. Someone who's uneducated hasn't had a lot of formal teaching, but that doesn't mean they're not intelligent. Plenty of formally uneducated people go on to do great things and live happy lives. But if you're really curious about a subject, or you want to become a doctor, teacher, plumber, or veterinarian, you'll need to get educated by going to school or otherwise being taught. The word uneducated comes from the verb educate, "provide schooling," and its root, which means "bring out" or "lead forth."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Uneducated in the traditional sense, Lincoln nonetheless was educated in the classical sense.
From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2017
Guardian contributor RobBrydon 02 September 2015 3:17pm Uneducated?
From The Guardian • Sep. 2, 2015
Guardian contributor RobBrydon 02 September 2015 3:17pm Uneducated?
From The Guardian • Sep. 2, 2015
Q. Uneducated Guess: My stepdaughter is gorgeous, successful, and self-made.
From Slate • Aug. 11, 2015
Uneducated and unknown, he considered himself as the subject of special religious providence, and at length as supernaturally called of God.
From English Literature, Considered as an Interpreter of English History Designed as a Manual of Instruction by Coppee, Henry
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
