analphabet

1 of 2

noun (1)

an·​al·​pha·​bet (ˌ)an-ˈal-fə-ˌbet How to pronounce analphabet (audio)
-bət
: a person who cannot read : illiterate
analphabetic
ˌan-ˌal-fə-ˈbe-tik How to pronounce analphabet (audio)
adjective or noun
analphabetism
(ˌ)an-ˈal-fə-bə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce analphabet (audio)
noun

analphabetism

2 of 2

noun (2)

an·​al·​pha·​bet·​ism (ˌ)an-ˈal-fə-bə-ˌti-zəm How to pronounce analphabetism (audio)
plural -s
: an analphabetic phonetic system

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

borrowed from New Latin analphabētus, derivative of analphabētus, adjective, "illiterate," borrowed from Greek analphábētos, from an- an- + -alphabētos, derivative of alphábētos alphabet

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1881, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1875, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of analphabet was in 1875

Rhymes for analphabet

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Browse Nearby Words

analogy test
analphabet
analphabetic
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Cite this Entry

“Analphabet.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/analphabet. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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