Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

semiliterate

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 0.00 in modern English

Syllables: semilit-er-ate
IPA

14

Scrabble Score

12

Letters

3

Syllables

8

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Not entirely literate; having a limited grasp of the written language.

noun

A person who is semiliterate.

Example Sentences

"With the necessary prowess of the semiliterate, Heed had a flawless memory, and like most nonreaders, she was highly numerate."
"If Rita Mae Brown were an exceptional writer, I might be more willing to give an ear to her pontificating […] But even as a pulp writer, Brown will have to treat lesbians as more than a bunch of anencephalic semi-literates who will sanctify her name forevermore. We have to have the guts to say, "Keep editing, Rita Mae; paper is cheap and we expect better!""

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Indo-European *sēmi Latin sēmi-bor. English semi- English literate English semiliterate From semi- + literate.

Inflected Forms

semiliterates (plural)

Frequently Paired Words

illiterate literate semiliteracy

Synonyms

subliterate

Questions

What does semiliterate mean?: Not entirely literate; having a limited grasp of the written language.
Where does semiliterate come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Indo-European *sēmi Latin sēmi-bor. English semi- English literate English semiliterate From semi- + literate.

How to pronounce semiliterate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “semiliterate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “semiliterate”.
Repeat and practice — Say “semiliterate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.