What does "literate" mean?
A person who is able to read and write.
Literate
/ˈlɪtəɹət/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A person who is able to read and write.
- Grammar: literate is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: literate person, abstruse, bookish, brahmin.
- Useful contrasts: illiterate, scientific ignorance, unlettered.
- Usage evidence: While American methods are often successful, the Japanese educational system that produces the most literate people in the world surely has some lessons to teach the U.S.
How to use "literate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "literate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "literate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "literate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "literate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "literate" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "literate person" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "literate", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A person who is able to read and write.
- 2 a person who can read and write wordnet
- 3 A person who was educated but had not taken a university degree; especially a candidate to take holy orders. historical
Adjective
- 1 Able to read and write; having literacy.
"Intelligence tests are biased toward the literate."
- 2 Knowledgeable in literature, writing; literary; well-read.
"The reason literature plays a unique role in any literate culture is its longevity."
- 3 Which is used in writing (of a language or dialect).
"The Mongol emperor Kublai Khan even commissioned an alphabetic script for his empire, to be used officially for all its literate languages, Mongolian, Chinese, Turkic and Persian."
Adjective
- 1 knowledgeable and educated in one or several fields wordnet
- 2 versed in literature; dealing with literature wordnet
- 3 able to read and write wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"While American methods are often successful, the Japanese educational system that produces the most literate people in the world surely has some lessons to teach the U.S."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "literate"?
Common synonyms include: literate person, abstruse, bookish, brahmin, brainworker, civilized.
How do you use "literate" in a sentence?
While American methods are often successful, the Japanese educational system that produces the most literate people in the world surely has some lessons to teach the U.S.
How do you pronounce "literate"?
Pronounced /ˈlɪtəɹət/.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English litterate, borrowed from Latin lītterātus, līterātus, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix). Doublet of literato and literatus.