illiterate

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.

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

From Salon • Nov. 23, 2025

As the conversation gets rolling, she digs into her roots, explaining that her maternal grandmother was an illiterate indentured servant.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025

"Digital technology is an opportunity we cannot miss," she said, warning that "those who do not adapt risk becoming the illiterate of the 21st century".

From Barron's • Oct. 9, 2025

A high number of pupils at the secondary school are "functionally illiterate", meaning they have a reading age well below average when they start Year 7.

From BBC • May 21, 2025

However, while Pizarro himself happened to be illiterate, he belonged to a literate tradition.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond