literate

Literate is an adjective describing the ability to read and write. It can also refer to having knowledge and appreciation of literature and written culture. The term derives from the Latin littera, meaning "letter," and entered English in the medieval period to contrast those who can read and write with those who cannot, i.e., the illiterate.

In contemporary usage, literacy typically denotes the ability to understand and use written language in everyday life. Educational and policy contexts distinguish basic or functional literacy from higher levels of literacy, such as prose literacy, document literacy, and numeracy in some frameworks. Literacy is commonly measured through assessments and surveys, and is a key indicator of educational access and development. Public programs aim to raise literacy rates across populations by teaching reading, writing, and comprehension skills.

As a social descriptor, literate can imply more than basic reading and writing: a literate person may be knowledgeable about literature, critical thinking, and written communication. The term can also appear in phrases like digital literacy, indicating competence with information technology, media, and online information.

Related terms include illiterate (unable to read or write), illiteracy (the state of being illiterate), literacy (the broader concept and system of being literate), and literateness (the quality of being literate or having literary knowledge). In archaeology or linguistics, the term arises in discussions of literate cultures and the historical shift from preliterate to literate societies.