innumerate

1 of 2

adjective

in·​nu·​mer·​ate i-ˈnü-mə-rət 

-ˈnyü-;

-ˈn(y)üm-rət

: marked by an ignorance of mathematics and the scientific approach

innumeracy

i-ˈnü-mə-rə-sē 

-ˈnyü-;

-ˈn(y)üm-rə-

noun

innumerate noun

innumeracy

2 of 2

noun

in·​numeracy (ˈ)in+ 

: the state of being innumerate

Examples of innumerate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Answer Man is innumerate in all major numbering systems — Roman, Arabic, hexadecimal — and not so hot in Latin, either. — Washington Post, 4 Dec. 2021

To my innumerate mind, though, the odds of a Biden win are basically fifty-fifty. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, 21 Oct. 2020

In those necks of the woods, people are too ignorant to vote in favor of helping their illiterate and innumerate children. — James Freeman, WSJ, 9 Oct. 2018

They would be termed innumerate — unskilled at working with numbers. — Sandy Bauers, Philly.com, 29 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

Noun

in- entry 1 + numeracy

First Known Use

Adjective

1959, in the meaning defined above