Meaning & use
semiliterate
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Able to read and write only with difficulty or to a very limited degree.
Grammar: Describes a person's ability, so it is not usually used with 'more' or 'most'.
Patterns
- a semiliterate person
- semiliterate adults
The program helps semiliterate adults improve their reading skills.
Many semiliterate workers struggle to understand written instructions.
She grew up in a semiliterate household where books were rare.
Common combinations
- semiliterate population
- The region has a large semiliterate population.
- semiliterate adults
- Classes are designed for semiliterate adults.
- functionally semiliterate
- He is functionally semiliterate and needs help with forms.
Synonyms and how they differ
- illiterate
- Illiterate means unable to read or write at all, while semiliterate suggests some ability but very limited.
- low-literacy
- Low-literacy is a more neutral term often used in education instead of semiliterate.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: semiliterate or illiterate?
semiliterate vs illiterate
Illiterate means completely unable to read or write; semiliterate means having very limited ability.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'semiliterate' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Semiliterate describes a person with very limited reading and writing ability, so option A fits. Option B is wrong because a university degree suggests high literacy. Option C describes a book, not a person. Option D uses 'semiliterate' for subjects, which is not its meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “semiliterate”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.