preliterate Hear it!

preliterate Definition

pre·lit·er·ate (prē′lit′ər it)

adjective

of or belonging to a society not having a writing system for its language

Etymology: pre- + literate

preliterate Usage Examples

Modifies a noun

  • society: We're a passive preliterate video society evolving toward becoming a proactive literate society.
  • time: In ancient times, even in preliterate times, they must have been recorded in some form or another.