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Synonyms

literacy

American  
[lit-er-uh-see] / ˈlɪt ər ə si /

noun

  1. the quality or state of being literate, especially the ability to read and write.

  2. possession of education.

    to question someone's literacy.
    Synonyms:
    culture, learning

  3. a person's knowledge of a particular subject or field.

    to acquire computer literacy;

    improving your financial literacy.
literacy British  
/ ˈlɪtərəsɪ /

noun

  1. the ability to read and write

  2. the ability to use language proficiently

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • antiliteracy adjective

Etymology

Origin of literacy

First recorded in 1880–85; liter(ate) + -acy

Explanation

If you can read this sentence and write one of your own, you possess literacy. In Latin, littera means "letter." Back in the day, a person who could read and write was described as lettered. Literacy can also mean having knowledge or ability in a more specific area. Since you bought grandma that laptop, her computer literacy has really improved: she just posted her newest exercise video.

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Vocabulary lists containing literacy

Power Suffix: -acy

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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.

Sweden's government is championing a renewed focus on physical books, paper and pens in classrooms, designed to reverse falling literacy levels.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

The company also plans to use OpenAI to address AI literacy for its workers and find new ways for different business units like manufacturing and supply chain to become more efficient.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

"They would be able to stay in it for a year, get some work under their belt, learn about financial literacy, and then have the chance to purchase it."

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

In the last year, Make Great Plays has conducted backpack and supply drives that outfitted more than 100 students and spent classroom time with students to increase computer literacy.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 31, 2026

From the beginnings of literacy in China, it has had only a single writing system, whereas modern Europe uses dozens of modified alphabets.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

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.