Unschooled: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when referring to someone who has not received formal education but may still have knowledge through experience or self-teaching.

• Although he was unschooled, he knew a great deal about farming from his years of experience.
• Her unschooled talent in art amazed everyone.

This word is appropriate for describing someone who lacks formal education or schooling, usually implying they may not have the basic knowledge or skills learned in school. It can have a mildly negative connotation.

• She felt out of place in the group because she was uneducated and struggled to keep up with the conversations.
• The village's uneducated population faces many challenges in accessing modern amenities.

This term is often used in a literary or historical context to describe someone who is illiterate or has not been taught to read or write. It carries a slightly old-fashioned or formal tone.

• In the olden days, many people in rural areas were unlettered due to the lack of schools.
• The unlettered man could not read the documents himself.

This word is suitable for describing someone who has not been instructed in a specific skill or knowledge area. It implies the person has not received guidance or teaching.

• The untaught apprentice made several mistakes while learning the new trade.
• Her untaught singing voice had a raw but captivating quality.

Use this word when referring to someone who lacks proper training or formal preparation, usually in a specific field or profession. It suggests they are inexperienced or unskilled in that particular area.

• An untrained person should not attempt to handle dangerous machinery.
• The untrained employee struggled with the complex software.