adjective
used of a society that has not developed writing
• Syn: ↑preliterate
• Similar to: ↑noncivilized, ↑noncivilised
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I. \\“+\ adjective1. : having no written language
primitive people are above all nonliterate people — A.L.Kroeber
2. : characterized by a lack of written language, simple technology, and relatively simple social organization : preliterate, primitive
nonliterate cultures
: a person having no written language
ethnological fieldwork with nonliterates
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—nonliteracy, n.
/non lit"euhr it/, adj. Anthropol.
preliterate.
[1945-50; NON- + LITERATE]
Useful english dictionary. 2012.