illiterate

[ ih-lit-er-it ]
/ ɪˈlɪt ər ɪt /

adjective

unable to read and write: an illiterate group.
having or demonstrating very little or no education.
showing lack of culture, especially in language and literature.
displaying a marked lack of knowledge in a particular field: He is musically illiterate.

noun

an illiterate person.

Origin of illiterate

First recorded in 1550–60, illiterate is from the Latin word illiterātus unlettered. See il-2, literate

OTHER WORDS FROM illiterate

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH illiterate

illegible illiterate unreadable illiterate innumerate

Example sentences from the Web for illiterate

British Dictionary definitions for illiterate

illiterate
/ (ɪˈlɪtərɪt) /

adjective

unable to read and write
violating accepted standards in reading and writing an illiterate scrawl
uneducated, ignorant, or uncultured scientifically illiterate

noun

an illiterate person

Derived forms of illiterate

illiteracy or illiterateness, noun illiterately, adverb