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Glite Dictionary
📖 Poor reading skills 📖 A weak reader
subliterate

subliterate

1 9.5
A person with very low reading and writing skills
  • noun
  • /ˌsʌblɪˈtɛrɪt/
translation icon : subiliterado
  • Lorenzo doesn't need this from a subliterate with a double-digit IQ!

Examples

  • The school developed special programs to help subliterate students improve their writing skills.

  • Many industries struggle to find qualified employees, but the issue is even worse for subliterate individuals who cannot read job applications.

  • As a subliterate, he faced significant challenges in everyday tasks like reading instructions or filling out forms.

Synonyms

functional illiterate
vssubliterate
1 7.6

A person who can read and write only a little and cannot fill in basic forms

is below the normal literacy standard rather than only lacking practical skills
unlettered person
vssubliterate
8.8

A person who cannot read or write

indicates low literacy skills but not necessarily complete lack of education

Antonyms

literate
2.7

A person who can read and write

How Literate

well-read
15 4.5
literate
2.7
reader
95 1.0
subliterate
1 9.5
illiterate
4 4.4

Surface Forms

subliterate singular
subliterates plural

Morphology

subliterate = subliterate (transparent) = sub + literate

The noun is formed by conversion from the adjective 'subliterate', whose meaning is directly recoverable from 'sub-' plus 'literate'.

Etymology

Subliterate is a person whose reading and writing are below the usual standard. The word is made from sub- ('below') and literate ('able to read and write'), so it names someone who is not fully literate.