# literate

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈlɪtəɹət/ · frequency rank #20,415

## Definitions
1. Able to read and write; having literacy.
2. Knowledgeable in literature, writing; literary; well-read.
3. Which is used in writing (of a language or dialect).

## Etymology
Inherited from Middle English litterate, borrowed from Latin lītterātus, līterātus, see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) and -ate (noun-forming suffix). Doublet of literato and literatus.
Displaced native Old English stæfwīs.

## Easily confused with
- **literature** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literate-vs-literature)
- **literal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literal-vs-literate)
- **literary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literary-vs-literate)
- **literacy** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literacy-vs-literate)
- **liberate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liberate-vs-literate)
- **liberated** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/liberated-vs-literate)

## Common misspellings (11)
`ilterate`, `lietrate`, `litearte`, `literaet`, `literatte`, `literrate`, `litertae`, `litreate`, `litterate`, `lliterate`, `ltierate`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/literate