literate

[lit-er-it]

adjective

1. able to read and write.

2. having or showing knowledge of literature, writing, etc.; literary; well-read.

3. characterized by skill, lucidity, polish, or the like.

   His writing is literate but cold and clinical.

   Synonyms: knowledgeable, well-informed

4. having knowledge or skill in a specified field.

   Is she computer literate? The boss needs a computer‑literate assistant.

5. having an education; educated.

   Synonyms: knowledgeable, well-informed

noun

1. a person who can read and write.

2. a learned person.

literate

/ ˈlɪtərɪt /

adjective

1. able to read and write

2. educated; learned

3. used to words rather than numbers as a means of expression Compare numerate

noun

1. a literate person

Other Word Forms

• literately adverb
• antiliterate adjective
• antiliterately adverb
• unliterate adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of literate¹

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin līterātus, litterātus learned, scholarly. See letter ¹, -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of literate¹

C15: from Latin litterātus learned. See _letter

Example Sentences

It’s hard to know what any of this signifies, other than that atheism is too boring to hold the attention of literate people for more than a few years at a time.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It is composed of Latinos, a Black college-bound overachiever, a barely literate country boy and an aggressive goon who chose the Marines over a prison sentence.

Read more on Salon

"I am a blue badge holder and I have to pay because I am not computer literate," he says, arguing that "you have to jump through hoops to get this discount".

Read more on BBC

"This was a literate, urban society where people had separate spaces for habitation, burial practices and industrial work," Mr Kumar says, noting it's the first large, well-defined ancient urban settlement found in southern India.

Read more on BBC

"It's plain from looking at the letters that whoever made the die wasn't literate, the letters don't bear much resemblance to Latin - they're garbage really," he explained.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• cultured 
• educated 
• knowledgeable