Illiterate: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'illiterate' when referring to someone who cannot read or write.

• Many adults in the remote village are illiterate.
• The campaign focuses on reducing illiteracy rates.

Use 'uneducated' when talking about someone who has not received formal education or schooling.

• Coming from an uneducated background, she had to work hard to catch up.
• The uneducated population faces many employment challenges.

Use 'ignorant' when describing someone who lacks knowledge or awareness in a particular area. This word can have a negative connotation.

• He was ignorant of the local customs.
• Her ignorant remarks offended many people.

Use 'unlettered' as a more formal term for someone who is illiterate, often used in historical or academic contexts.

• The unlettered peasants struggled to navigate the growing bureaucracy.
• In old times, being unlettered was common among the working class.

Used in the same context as 'uneducated', but explicitly refers to the inability to read and write.

• She grew up illiterate but learned to read later in life.
• The illiterate population tends to have limited access to job opportunities.

Refers to someone who does not read, often by choice. This term is less about ability and more about behavior or preference. It doesn't necessarily have a negative connotation.

• He's a nonreader who prefers watching movies instead of reading books.
• Schools are developing programs to engage nonreaders and encourage a love for reading.

A somewhat archaic way to describe someone who cannot read or write. It is often used in literary or historical contexts.

• In the past, being an unlettered person was common in rural areas.
• The novel portrays the struggles of an unlettered person trying to navigate a literate society.