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functionally illiterate

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

adjective

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


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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

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

From Washington Times • Sep. 20, 2020

Fourteen percent of our adult population is functionally illiterate.

From New York Times • Mar. 12, 2020

He is also functionally illiterate and does not have a high school diploma.

From Washington Post • May 17, 2018

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

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