Definition of "illiterate" in English

adjective

1. Unable to read and write.

   • About half of the population in Ethiopia is illiterate.

2. Having less than an expected standard of familiarity with language and literature, or having little formal education.

3. Not conforming to prescribed standards of speech or writing.

4. Ignorant in a specified way or about a specified subject.

   • economically illiterate, emotionally illiterate

noun

1. An illiterate person, one either not able to read and write or not knowing how.

2. A person ignorant about a given subject. (The relevant subject is usually named as a noun adjunct.)

   • Their government is run by business illiterates.
   • Sometimes a mathematical illiterate is called an innumerate.