Meaning & use
illiterate
Unable to read or write.
See it in a sentence
A century ago, many rural children grew up illiterate because schools were scarce.
He joked that he was computer illiterate, unable to fix even simple software problems.
A note on using this word
Illiterate can extend beyond reading and writing to describe someone lacking basic knowledge in a field, as in 'computer illiterate.'
Words with a similar meaning
unlettered
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
literate
Make it your own
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