Many adults in rural areas remain illiterate, struggling to access basic education resources.
synonyms
uneducatedunreadignorant
word origin — from Latin 'illiteratus', meaning 'unlettered' or 'uneducated'; from 'in-' (not) + 'literatus' (skilled in letters)
illiterate, forlorn, unbiased, impeccable, spurious: meanings and examples
Learn these 5 words from TOEFL Vocabulary set 16. Each entry includes a definition, example sentence, pronunciation, and synonyms. Use the interactive cards above to practice them.
illiterate · adjective/ɪˈlɪt.ə.reɪt/
unable to read and write
Many adults in rural areas remain illiterate, struggling to access basic education resources.
Synonyms: uneducated, unread, ignorant
Origin: from Latin 'illiteratus', meaning 'unlettered' or 'uneducated'; from 'in-' (not) + 'literatus' (skilled in letters)
forlorn · adjective/fɔrˈlɔrn/
pitifully sad and abandoned or lonely
The forlorn puppy sat by the empty park bench, waiting for its owner to return.
Synonyms: desolate, abandoned, forsaken
Origin: from Middle English 'forlorn', meaning 'lost' or 'abandoned', from the past participle of 'forleosan' (to lose).
unbiased · adjective/ʌnˈbaɪəst/
free from preference or prejudice
The journalist aimed to provide an unbiased perspective in her report, ensuring all sides of the story were presented fairly.
Synonyms: neutral, impartial, objective
Origin: The word 'unbiased' is formed from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'biased' derived from 'bias,' which comes from the Old French 'biais' meaning 'slant' or 'slope.'
impeccable · adjective/ɪmˈpɛkəbl/
faultless or flawless; lacking any mistakes or shortcomings
Her impeccable taste in fashion always leaves a lasting impression on everyone at the gala.
Synonyms: flawless, perfect, immaculate
Origin: from Latin 'impeccabilis', from 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'peccare' meaning 'to sin' or 'to make a mistake'
spurious · adjective/ˈspʊr.i.əs/
not genuine or authentic; false or misleading
The scientist dismissed the spurious claims made by the pharmaceutical company about their new drug's effectiveness.
Synonyms: false, misleading, counterfeit
Origin: Derived from the Latin word 'spurius', meaning 'illegitimate' or 'false'.