illiterate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a person unable to read
    illiterate person; nonreader.
  2. adjective not able to read or write
  3. adjective satellite uneducated in the fundamentals of a given art or branch of learning; lacking knowledge of a specific field
    ignorant.
    • she is ignorant of quantum mechanics
    • he is musically illiterate
  4. adjective lacking culture, especially in language and literature

WordNet

Il*lit"er*ate adjective
Etymology
L. illiteratus: pref. il- not + literatus learned. See In- not, and Literal.
Definitions
  1. Ignorant of letters or books; unlettered; uninstructed; uneducated; as, an illiterate man, or people. Syn. -- Ignorant; untaught; unlearned; unlettered; unscholary. See Ignorant. -- Il*lit"er*ate*ly, adv. -- Il*lit"er*ate*ness, n.

Webster 1913