Someone who is literate is able to read and write.
Over one-quarter of the adult population are not fully literate.
2. adjective
If you describe someone as literate, you mean that they are intelligent and well-educated, especially about literature and the arts.
[approval]
Scientists should be literate and articulate as well as able to handle figures.
His lyrics are highly literate. He even quotes Voltaire.
Synonyms: educated, lettered, learned, cultured More Synonyms of literate
3. adjective [usually adverb ADJECTIVE]
If you describe someone as literate in a particular subject, especially one that many people do not know anything about, you mean that they have a good knowledge and understanding of that subject.
Head teachers need to be financially literate.
We want to have more scientifically literate people running our television stations.
4. See also computer-literate
literate in British English
(ˈlɪtərɪt)
adjective
1.
able to read and write
2.
educated; learned
3.
used to words rather than numbers as a means of expression
Compare numerate
noun
4.
a literate person
Derived forms
literately (ˈliterately)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin litterātus learned. See letter
literate in American English
(ˈlɪtərɪt)
adjective
1.
able to read and write
2.
well-educated; having or showing extensive knowledge, learning, or culture
3. Rare
versed in literature
4.
knowledgeable or capable
economically literate
noun
5.
a literate person
Derived forms
literately (ˈliterately)
adverb
Word origin
ME litterate < L litteratus < littera, letter1
Examples of 'literate' in a sentence
literate
The hand was elegant, clearly that of someone educated and literate.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
Apparently, in order to be computer literate, you didn't have to be human literate.
Smith, Evelyn E MISS MELVILLE REGRETS (2002)
You are well-read, literate; more so than some of my friends.
Trenhalle, John A MEANS TO EVIL (2002)
In other languages
literate
British English: literate ADJECTIVE
Someone who is literate is able to read and write.
Over one-quarter of the adult population are not fully literate.
American English: literate
Brazilian Portuguese: alfabetizado
Chinese: 能读会写的
European Spanish: culto
French: qui sait lire et écrire
German: gebildet
Italian: che sa leggere e scrivere
Japanese: 読み書きができる
Korean: 글을 읽고 쓸 줄 아는
European Portuguese: alfabetizado
Latin American Spanish: culto
Chinese translation of 'literate'
literate
(ˈlɪtərət)
adj
(= able to read and write) 有读(讀)写(寫)能力的 (yǒu dúxiě nénglì de)