LITERATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does literate mean? 

• LITERATE (noun)
  The noun LITERATE has 1 sense:

1. a person who can read and write

  Familiarity information: LITERATE used as a noun is very rare.

• LITERATE (adjective)
  The adjective LITERATE has 3 senses:

1. able to read and write

2. versed in literature; dealing with literature

3. knowledgeable and educated in one or several fields

  Familiarity information: LITERATE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• LITERATE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A person who can read and write

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

literate; literate person

Hypernyms ("literate" is a kind of...):

individual; mortal; person; somebody; someone; soul (a human being)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "literate"):

alphabetiser; alphabetizer (a literate person who can arrange items in alphabetical order)

reader (a person who can read; a literate person)

writer (a person who is able to write and has written something)

• LITERATE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Able to read and write

Antonym:

illiterate (not able to read or write)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Versed in literature; dealing with literature

Similar:

belletristic (written and regarded for aesthetic value rather than content)

literary (knowledgeable about literature)

Also:

educated (possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge))

sophisticated (having or appealing to those having worldly knowledge and refinement and savoir-faire)

Antonym:

illiterate (lacking culture, especially in language and literature)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Knowledgeable and educated in one or several fields

Context example:

computer literate

Similar:

educated (possessing an education (especially having more than average knowledge))