illiterate
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.describes someone who has not learned how to read or write.
adj.unable to read or write; lacking the basic skills of literacy.
Simple“In the past, many people remained illiterate because they could not attend school.”
In context“The government launched a nationwide campaign to provide basic education to illiterate adults in rural provinces.”
SynonymsunletteredAntonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
adj.written in a way that does not follow the rules of grammar or language.
adj.failing to conform to the prescribed standards of grammar, syntax, or formal writing.
Simple“The manager was angry because the report was messy and illiterate.”
In context“The professor dismissed the essay as illiterate, noting its complete disregard for standard academic punctuation and structure.”
SynonymsungrammaticaluneducatedAntonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
n.a person who does not know how to read or write.
n.an individual who lacks the ability to read or write.
Simple“The charity provides special classes for illiterates to help them find better jobs.”
In context“The census categorized a significant portion of the elderly population as illiterates due to the lack of schooling during the war years.”
“He was also challenged about whether he was nonverbal until the age of 11, as well as being illiterate until 18.”
“Arday said he had been nonverbal until the age of 11, requiring extensive speech and language therapy, as well as being illiterate until 18.”
First attested in 1425–1475, in Middle English; from Middle English illiterat(e) (“uneducated, ignorant of Latin”), borrowed from Latin illīterātus, illitterātus (“unlearned, ignorant”), itself from in- (“un-”) + līterātus, litterātus (“furnished with letters”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), from lītera, littera (“letter, character”). The noun was derived from the adjective by substantivization, see -ate (noun-forming suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.