adjective
illiterate
ih-LIH-tuh-ruht
adjective
1
Unable to read or write.
"Nearly a third of the population was illiterate at the time."
2
Lacking basic knowledge in a particular field.
"He cheerfully admitted to being computer illiterate."
How to Use Illiterate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCan't read or write — or, more loosely, lacks basic know-how in some area (e.g. "financially illiterate").
Common pairings
functionally illiterate
computer illiterate
financially illiterate
Word Forms
more illiterate comparative, illiterates plural, most illiterate superlative
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Etymology
From Latin illiteratus, "unlearned" — in- ("not") + literatus ("lettered, educated").