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functionally illiterate

American

[fuhngk-shuhn-uh-lee-i-lit-er-it] / ˈfʌŋk ʃən ə li ɪˈlɪt ər ɪt /

adjective

being a functional illiterate; having some schooling but unable to read and write well enough for everyday needs.

Other Word Forms

functional illiteracy noun
functional illiterate noun

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But Mr Randel said too many pupils in Wales ended up being "functionally illiterate" and many could not access other subjects properly because of poor reading skills.

From BBC • Jul. 17, 2024

Before he went viral, James rarely spoke about his disability, or the schooling that left him functionally illiterate.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 28, 2022

Now Girtley has to cope with being functionally illiterate.

From Washington Post • May 26, 2021

“He’s functionally illiterate in English,” Mr. Todd, a federal public defender, told the court.

From Washington Times • Sep. 20, 2020

About 70 percent of people with criminal records did not complete high school, and according to at least one study, about half are functionally illiterate.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023