illiterate

 
Pronunciation: /ɪˈlɪt(ə)rət/

adjective

  • unable to read or write: his parents were illiterate
  • [with submodifier] ignorant in a particular subject or activity: the extent to which voters are politically illiterate
  • (of a piece of writing) showing a lack of education; badly written: as you can see, I have corrected your misspelt, illiterate letter

noun

  • a person who is unable to read or write.

Phrases

functionally illiterate

lacking the literacy necessary for coping with most jobs and many everyday situations.

Derivatives

illiterately

adverb

illiterateness

noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin illitteratus, from in- 'not' + litteratus (see literate)

Spelling help

Remember that illiterate is spelled with a double l.