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Illiterate vs Imbecile - What's the difference?

illiterate | imbecile |

As adjectives the difference between illiterate and imbecile

is that illiterate is unable to read and write while imbecile is (dated) destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak.

As nouns the difference between illiterate and imbecile

is that illiterate is an illiterate person, one not able to read while imbecile is (obsolete) a person with limited (l) (l) who can perform (l) and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five to seven-year-old child.

illiterate

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Unable to read and write.
  • Having less than an expected standard of familiarity with language and literature, or having little formal education.
  • Not conforming to prescribed standards of speech or writing.

    • Synonyms

    * ignorant * unlettered

    Antonyms

    * literate

    Derived terms

    * illiteracy * illiterately * illiterateness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • an illiterate person, one not able to read.

    • References

    * (EtymOnLine)

    imbecile

    English

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (obsolete) A person with limited (l) (l) who can perform (l) and think only like a young child, in medical circles meaning a person who lacks the capacity to develop beyond the mental age of a normal five to seven-year-old child.
  • (pejorative) A .

    • Usage notes

    * In modern times, “imbecile” is often used in (l) (l).

    Synonyms

    * See also

    Derived terms

    * imbecilic (adjective) * imbecility (noun)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (dated) Destitute of strength, whether of body or mind; feeble; impotent; especially, mentally weak.
    • hospitals for the imbecile and insane