Definition of illiterate

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< illiteracy

ill-mannered >

il·lit·er·ate

(

-l

t) KEY

ADJECTIVE:

1. Unable to read and write.
2. Having little or no formal education.
1. Marked by inferiority to an expected standard of familiarity with language and literature.
2. Violating prescribed standards of speech or writing.
Ignorant of the fundamentals of a given art or branch of knowledge: musically illiterate. See Usage Note at literate.

ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, from Latin illtertus : in-, not ; see in-¹ + ltertus, literate ; see literate

OTHER FORMS:
il·liter·ate(Noun), il·liter·ate·ly(Adverb), il·liter·ate·ness(Noun)

Thesaurus: synonyms for illiterate

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