uneducated

adjective

un·​ed·​u·​cat·​ed ˌən-ˈe-jə-ˌkā-təd How to pronounce uneducated (audio)
Synonyms of uneducatednext
: having or showing little or no formal schooling : not educated
Owing to my father being left an orphan at the age of six years, in poverty, and in a new country, he became a wholly uneducated man.—Abraham Lincoln
an uneducated attitude

Synonyms of uneducated

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Examples of uneducated in a Sentence

a literary reference that could not be grasped by an uneducated person
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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But Jewish religious nationalists, particularly uneducated young men, remain a threat, said John Munayer of the Rossing Center for Education and Dialogue, an interreligious organization in Jerusalem. — ABC News, 14 Aug. 2026 The report says there's been progress, but minorities, along with people who are poor and uneducated, still face higher death rates. — Stephanie Stahl, CBS News, 24 June 2026 The hillbilly is portrayed as ignorant, uneducated, and unsophisticated; they are often depicted as being unkempt in appearance, perhaps noticeably dirty or walking around barefoot. — Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 June 2026 Stolen bases, once treated as a reckless relic of the uneducated past, are at levels not seen since the freewheeling 1980s. — Chad Jennings, New York Times, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for uneducated

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of uneducated was in 1598

Rhymes for uneducated

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Browse Nearby Words

uneducable
uneducated
uneffectual
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Cite this Entry

“Uneducated.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/uneducated. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

uneducated

adjective
un·​ed·​u·​cat·​ed
ˌən-ˈej-ə-ˌkāt-əd
: seriously lacking in education and especially in formal schooling
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