illiteracy

noun

il·​lit·​er·​a·​cy (ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-t(ə-)rə-sē 

plural illiteracies

1

: the quality or state of being illiterate

especially : inability to read or write

2

: a mistake or crudity (as in speaking) typical of one who is illiterate

Synonyms

• ignorance

Examples of illiteracy in a Sentence

the government's efforts to reduce illiteracy

His letters contain many misspellings and illiteracies.

Recent Examples on the Web

But social media and polarized politics are exposing it at industrial scale, fueled by a poisonous cocktail of bad actors, media illiteracy and plummeting trust in traditional news. —Zachary Basu, Axios, 19 Oct. 2024

What does McMahon see as the root causes of such illiteracy? —Rodger Dean Duncan, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024

Stubborn circumstances Chronically absent students are at higher risk of illiteracy and eventually dropping out. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2024

His administration was also very successful in that under his term consumer prices only rose at just .4%, the nation’s wealth increased by 17.5%, the national debt was cut in half, unemployment stood at 3.6% and illiteracy fell by almost 50%. —Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

illiteracy

noun

il·​lit·​er·​a·​cy (ˈ)il-ˈ(l)it-ə-rə-sē 

-ˈ(l)i-trə-sē

plural illiteracies

1

: the quality or state of being illiterate

especially : inability to read or write

2

: a mistake made by or typical of an illiterate person