illiterate
pronunciation
How to pronounce illiterate in British English:
UK [ɪˈlɪtərət]
How to pronounce illiterate in American English:
US [ɪˈlɪtərət]
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- Noun:
- a person unable to read
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- Adjective:
- not able to read or write
- ignorant of the fundamentals of a given art or branch of knowledge
Word Origin
- illiterate (adj.)
- early 15c., "uneducated, unable to read (originally of Latin)," from Latin illiteratus "unlearned, unlettered, ignorant; without culture, inelegant," from assimilated form of in- "not, opposite of" (see in- (1)) + literatus, literally "furnished with letters" (see literate). Rendered in Old English as unstæfwis. As a noun meaning "illiterate person" from 1620s. Hence, illiterati (1788).
Synonym
Antonym
Example
- 1. Defectors have described him as arthritic and illiterate .
- 2. The greeks are totally illiterate from around 1100 to 750 .
- 3. Even the geographically illiterate and politically unaware have heard of the united states .
- 4. An estimated 70 percent to 90 percent of afghan soldiers and police are illiterate .
- 5. The firm also sells voice-activated washing machines for middle-class families with illiterate maids .