lit·er·ate
ˈli-tə-rət 
also ˈli-trət
1
2
a
: versed in literature or creative writing : literary
literate novelists
c
: having knowledge or competence (see competent sense 2)
computer-literate
politically literate
literately
adverb
literateness
noun
1
: an educated person
2
: a person who can read and write
Synonyms
Examples of literate in a Sentence
Adjective
She is literate in both English and Spanish.
What percentage of the population is literate?
The job requires you to be computer literate.
Recent Examples on the Web
Natasha Delion, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024
Being digitally literate gives you the ability to critically analyze and understand exactly how these tools work.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Lynn Schenk
alison Smart, Harvard Business Review, 4 Oct. 2024
Being data literate is not the same as being a data storyteller.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for literate 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Jeff Wheeler, a photographer at the Star Tribune, said Doman challenged the stereotype that photographers aren’t very literate through his love of books, and his Scrabble skills.
—Natasha Delion, Twin Cities, 9 Nov. 2024
Being digitally literate gives you the ability to critically analyze and understand exactly how these tools work.
—Sho Dewan, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Noun
Senior managers need to lead the effort to become climate literate and to then enable all of their employees, especially aspiring and rising managers, to do the same.
—Lynn Schenk
alison Smart, Harvard Business Review, 4 Oct. 2024
Being data literate is not the same as being a data storyteller.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023
See all Example Sentences for literate
Dictionary Entries Near literate
Cite this Entry
“Literate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/literate. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
literate
1 of 2 adjective
lit·er·ate
ˈlit-ə-rət
ˈli-trət
1
2
: able to read and write
3
: having knowledge or experience in a particular area
computer literate
literately
adverb
literateness
noun
literate
2 of 2 noun1
: an educated person
2
: a person who can read and write
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share