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 or crudity (as in speaking) typical of one who is illiterate

Synonyms

• ignorance

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

The spending disparity ignored the circumstances of many of the countries receiving this aid: people did not have enough to eat, and rates of illiteracy were as high as 90%. — Made By History, Time, 23 Apr. 2025

At the heart of these matters is an overwhelming degree of financial illiteracy. —David Kudla, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024

There is a romance of illiteracy here, as if poetry should be looked at instead of thoughtfully read. —Andrea Long Chu, Vulture, 6 May 2025

One act of economic illiteracy would therefore sabotage both Medicaid and Medicare simultaneously. —Sally Pipes, Forbes.com, 3 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1660, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for illiteracy

• literacy

Kids 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