/ Dictionary / Index P preliterate: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: pre•lit•er•ate Pronunciation: (prē-lit'ur-it), [key] — adj. Anthropol. lacking a written language; nonliterate: a preliterate culture. occurring before the development or use of writing. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. See also: preliterate (Thesaurus) prelimit Prelog Related Content Daily Word Quiz: portent Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language