illiteracy
noun
il·lit·er·a·cy
(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-t(ə-)rə-sē 
plural illiteracies
1
: the quality or state of being illiterate
especially
: inability to read or write
2
: a mistake (as in speaking) typical of one who is illiterate
misspellings and illiteracies
Examples of illiteracy in a Sentence
the government's efforts to reduce illiteracy
His letters contain many misspellings and illiteracies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Their parents sign their names with trembling hands that carry the invisible weight of illiteracy.
—
Joyeeta Banerjee, NPR, 1 Mar. 2026
The Shopper was created in 1970 by Reuben Harpole, Mildred Harpole and Belden Paulson, not just to combat illiteracy but to provide supporting funds to the Harambee Community School – an institution at 110 W. Burleigh St. that was grappling with disinvestment at the time.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 23 Feb. 2026
The correlation between illiteracy and incarceration has been known for a long time.
—David Owen, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Hirsch believes that the consequences of illiteracy are also reflected within the prison system.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiteracy
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Joyeeta Banerjee, NPR, 1 Mar. 2026
The Shopper was created in 1970 by Reuben Harpole, Mildred Harpole and Belden Paulson, not just to combat illiteracy but to provide supporting funds to the Harambee Community School – an institution at 110 W. Burleigh St. that was grappling with disinvestment at the time.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 23 Feb. 2026
The correlation between illiteracy and incarceration has been known for a long time.
—David Owen, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
Hirsch believes that the consequences of illiteracy are also reflected within the prison system.
—Nia Bowers, USA Today, 13 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiteracy
Cite this Entry
“Illiteracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illiteracy. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
illiteracy
noun
il·lit·er·a·cy
(ˈ)il-ˈ(l)it-ə-rə-sē
-ˈ(l)i-trə-sē
plural illiteracies
1
: the quality or state of being illiterate
especially
: inability to read or write
2
: a mistake made by or typical of an illiterate person
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