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.

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literacy British  

/ ˈlɪtərəsɪ /

noun

1. the ability to read and write

2. the ability to use language proficiently

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Other Word Forms

• antiliteracy
  adjective

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Etymology

Origin of literacy

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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

literacy

Alongside a literacy and numeracy drive, Andrews re-introduced accountability measures with annual reading and maths tests for seven-to-14 year olds, and a new school performance regime, called banding.

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026

The end of articles about “the end of reading”: Countless pundits, teachers, and researchers have warned that we are in the middle of a literacy crisis.

From Slate ● Oct. 13, 2026

“That’s your decision in regard to whether or not you use it,” said Norman Weekes, the AI literacy educator and entrepreneur who presented the topic to the group.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

Today we are more likely to plug the passage into a chatbot to determine its source and then move on to social media, where rudimentary reading thrives yet true literacy withers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

The literacy leaders, three men and one woman, decked out in their green uniforms and boots, arrive in a jeep and calmly hop down and come over to greet us.

From "Across So Many Seas" by Ruth Behar

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Related Words

• education
• knowledge
• learning
• proficiency

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