preliterate

American  

[pree-lit-er-it] / priˈlɪt ər ɪt /

adjective

Anthropology.

1. lacking a written language; nonliterate.

   a preliterate culture.

2. occurring before the development or use of writing.

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preliterate British  

/ priːˈlɪtərɪt, priːˈlɪtərəsɪ /

adjective

1. relating to a society that has not developed a written language

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Other Word Forms

• preliteracy noun

Etymology

Origin of preliterate

First recorded in 1920–25; pre- + literate

Example Sentences

Myths themselves commonly embody the religious beliefs of ancient or preliterate peoples, but Philip Ball suggests that we are still generating them.

From Washington Post

It is difficult to prove that preliterate people were motivated by faith rather than economic necessity.

From Literature

The most puzzling part of the whole civilisation-to-the-rescue proposal is that whenever modern-day explorers have encountered preliterate people, the violent ones have invariably been the explorers.

From The Guardian

One reason I learned to read was so that I could understand “hard books” like “Little Women,” which was read aloud to me as a preliterate child.

From New York Times

While all those types of information were also transmitted by other means in preliterate societies, writing made the transmission easier, more detailed, more accurate, and more persuasive.

From Literature

Related Words

• crude
• rough
• rudimentary
• simple
• uncivilized