illiteracy
Americannoun
plural
illiteracies-
a lack of ability to read and write.
-
the state of being illiterate; lack of any or enough education.
-
a mistake in writing or speaking, felt to be characteristic of an illiterate or semiliterate person.
a letter that was full of illiteracies.
Other Word Forms
- semi-illiteracy noun
Etymology
Origin of illiteracy
First recorded in 1650–60; illiter(ate) + -acy
Explanation
Illiteracy is the inability to read. You can help someone overcome illiteracy by reading together, or even by sharing your knowledge of vocabulary. The word literacy means “the ability to read.” By adding the prefix il-, you change the meaning of the word to its opposite. Illiteracy can refer not only to the inability to read but also to a lack of knowledge in other subject areas. If you’ve never heard of Shakespeare, some people might consider you culturally illiterate.
Vocabulary lists containing illiteracy
A Raisin in the Sun
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The Kite Runner
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Workshop 1, Part 1
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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.
This included asking for a full formal apology, cancelling foreign debts and investment to tackle illiteracy and public health issues.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
If this isn’t done we will continue to have high levels of illiteracy at the secondary level and in adulthood.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026
White illiteracy rates, for instance, were four times higher in the South than in the North.
From Salon • Mar. 24, 2025
In a lesser-known history, the federal government helped bring public education to Southern white children, whose illiteracy rates prior to Reconstruction were five times as high as in the North.
From Slate • Feb. 6, 2025
While millions across the world struggle with illiteracy, poverty, violence and war, let us remember that we have the power, determination and creative minds to help fight and eliminate those social problems.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
