semiliterate

[ sem-ee-lit-er-it, sem-ahy- ]
/ ˌsɛm iˈlɪt ər ɪt, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

barely able to read and write.
capable of reading but not writing.
literate but poorly skilled or informed; lacking the proficiency of a literate person.

noun

a person who is semiliterate.

Origin of semiliterate

First recorded in 1925–30; semi- + literate

OTHER WORDS FROM semiliterate

sem·i·lit·er·a·cy [sem-ee-lit-er-uh-see, sem-ahy-] /ˌsɛm iˈlɪt ər ə si, ˌsɛm aɪ-/, noun

Words nearby semiliterate

semigroup, semih., semihardy, semiheavy water, semiliquid, semiliterate, semilogarithmic, semilunar, semilunar bone, semilunar cartilage, semilunar conjunctival fold

Example sentences from the Web for semiliterate

British Dictionary definitions for semiliterate

semiliterate
/ (ˌsɛmɪˈlɪtərɪt) /

adjective

hardly able to read or write
able to read but not to write