Nonreader

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Someone who lacks the ability to read written text, or who simply does not read books and other printed material
2. A person unable to read, or one who seldom or never engages with books and writing
3. An individual who cannot decode written language or who chooses not to read for pleasure or information

Etymology: "Nonreader" is a plain English compound: the prefix "non-", meaning "not," attached to "reader," meaning one who reads. Its literal sense is simply someone who does not read, and the prefix carries the same negating force found in words like "nonsmoker" or "nonprofit." The prefix itself descends from Old English "nān," a contraction of "ne ān," meaning "not one" or "not any," so the word is built from an ancient negation that English has long used to form new terms. The use of "non-" as a productive prefix for creating fresh compounds is what makes "nonreader" easy to coin. Writers can attach it to almost any noun, which explains why such words often appear in surveys, reports and academic writing, where a neutral label for a group is needed. The compound sounds plainer than "illiterate," which carries a judgement, and that neutrality is part of its appeal.

Synonyms: illiterate

Antonyms: reader, bibliophile