Meaning
Illiterate means unable to read or write. It can also describe someone lacking knowledge or education in a particular field, such as being computer illiterate (not knowing how to use computers).
Grammar and Usage
- Part of speech: Adjective / Noun
- Adjective usage: Describes a person lacking reading or writing skills, or lacking knowledge in a specific area.
- Noun usage: Refers to a person who cannot read or write.
Patterns:
- be illiterate in something → “He is illiterate in technology.”
- an illiterate person → “Many people in rural areas were illiterate.”
Common Phrases
- functionally illiterate – able to read or write only at a very basic level
- computer illiterate – lacking knowledge of computers
- technologically illiterate – unfamiliar with technology
- politically illiterate – lacking understanding of politics
Collocations
- verb + illiterate: remain illiterate, become illiterate
- noun + illiterate: adult illiterate, rural illiterate
- adverb + illiterate: completely illiterate, almost illiterate
Examples
- Many adults in the village are still illiterate.
- He’s completely computer illiterate; he doesn’t even know how to open a file.
- The campaign aims to help illiterate people learn to read and write.
- In the 19th century, most of the population was illiterate.
- She considers herself financially illiterate and wants to take a course in money management.
- Being illiterate in digital tools can make it hard to find modern jobs.
- The program reduced the number of illiterates in the region.
- The teacher volunteered to help illiterate adults in the community.
Synonyms or Related
- uneducated
- unschooled
- ignorant
- uninformed
- untaught
Antonym
- literate
- educated
- knowledgeable