1
- unable to read or write不会读写的, 不识字的：
his parents were illiterate.
他的父母都不识字。
1.1
- with submodifier ignorant in a particular subject or activity（某方面）无知的：
the extent to which voters are politically illiterate.
投票人对政治无知的程度。
1.2
- uncultured or poorly educated没有文化的, 无教养的：
the ignorant, illiterate Town Council.
无知又没文化的镇市政会。
1.3
- (especially of a piece of writing) showing a lack of education, especially an inability to read or write well（尤指文章）粗俗的, 读不懂的, 文法多差错的。
- a person who is unable to read or write不会读写的人, 文盲。
短语
functionally illiterate
- lacking the literacy necessary for coping with most jobs and many everyday situations无法应对基本职业与生活要求的, 功能性文盲的。
派生词
illiteracy
nounilliterately
adverbilliterateness
noun词源
late Middle English: from Latin illitteratus, from in- 'not' + litteratus （see LITERATE）.