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

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

literacy

They included legislative educational additions such as ethnic studies and financial literacy, a statewide push into college and career pathways, and the expansion of dual enrollment with community colleges.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

The shop in the city's densely packed Mong Kok area was founded in 2022 by a group of former journalists, stocking literature on democracy, authoritarianism and media literacy.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026

“By most measures, they are the most market-fluent generation America has ever produced,” according to a Morningstar report, yet surprisingly, they score lower than other generations in financial literacy, “undermining the group’s long-term performance potential.”

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

Researchers say the key ingredients likely included investing in literacy coaches, holding schools and districts accountable, and holding back struggling students at the end of third grade.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

Select three of the terms from either list and give an example of how you might use that term to illustrate music concepts in addition to either a math or literacy concept.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin

Related Words

• education
• knowledge
• learning
• proficiency