Dictionary

unlettered

adjective un·let·tered \ˌən-ˈle-tərd\

: unable to read or write

Full Definition of UNLETTERED

1
a :  lacking facility in reading and writing and ignorant of the knowledge to be gained from books
b :  illiterate
2
:  not marked with letters
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First Known Use of UNLETTERED

14th century

Synonym Discussion of UNLETTERED

ignorant, illiterate, unlettered, untutored, unlearned mean not having knowledge. ignorant may imply a general condition or it may apply to lack of knowledge or awareness of a particular thing <an ignorant fool> <ignorant of nuclear physics>. illiterate applies to either an absolute or a relative inability to read and write <much of the population is still illiterate>. unlettered implies ignorance of the knowledge gained by reading <an allusion meaningless to the unlettered>. untutored may imply lack of schooling in the arts and ways of civilization <strange monuments built by an untutored people>. unlearned suggests ignorance of advanced subjects <poetry not for academics but for the unlearned masses>.

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