illiterate — unable to read or write
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: unable to read or write
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪˈlɪtərət/
Example Sentences
- My grandfather pretended to be illiterate whenever my grandmother asked him to read her shopping list.
- The government launched a campaign to reduce the illiterate rate in rural areas.
- Being digitally illiterate in today's world is like being lost in a maze of technology.
illiterate
ADJECTIVE[/ɪˈlɪtərət/]
unable to read or write
The illiterate farmer stares helplessly at the contract he cannot read.
From illiterate to literate, obliterate ignorance!
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
Derived from Latin, combining the negation prefix 'il-' (not) with 'littera' (letter). The term originally denoted a state of lacking knowledge of letters or writing, and came to mean lacking education or unable to read and write.
Breakdown
il- (not) + littera (letter) + -ate (adjective suffix indicating a state or condition of having).
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My grandfather pretended to be illiterate whenever my grandmother asked him to read her shopping list.”
“The government launched a campaign to reduce the illiterate rate in rural areas.”
“Being digitally illiterate in today's world is like being lost in a maze of technology.”
“He's so financially illiterate that he thinks a credit score is something you get in a video game.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
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