Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

illiterate

[ih-lit-er-it] / ɪˈlɪt ər ɪt /


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

It painted a dire picture of a nation where one-in-two children under five years has stunted growth, and nearly three-quarters of 10 year-olds leave school illiterate.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

In her second term, she introduced a constitutional amendment to reserve 45 seats in the legislature for female MPs, and worked to educate young women - in a country where 70% of them were illiterate.

From BBC • Dec. 29, 2025

“Without laborers,” she writes, “who were often illiterate and almost never speak for themselves in historical texts—there would have been no Mughal Empire.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

They want illiterate, groveling serfs, who live in fear and don’t stick around too long.

From Salon • Nov. 23, 2025

I must have tinkered too much wondering how my invisible grandmother, illiterate and dependent on letter writers, could give us candy free.

From "The Woman Warrior" by Maxine Hong Kingston




Vocabulary lists containing illiterate


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "illiterate" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com