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
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
By the time that my mother and Alina’s were born, female illiteracy, the norm in imperial Russia, had been all but eliminated.
—
Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
In the immediate aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murder, one of the most vexing things occluding the facts of what happened was a general illiteracy regarding the online culture that had engulfed the alleged killer — its memes and codes and ideologies.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Intersectionality proposes that societal problems such as crime and illiteracy correct themselves if opportunities and environments are evened out via public policy.
—John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
From growing up in abject poverty and illiteracy to being one of the world’s most celebrated high jewelry artists.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for illiteracy
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Julia Ioffe, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2025
In the immediate aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s murder, one of the most vexing things occluding the facts of what happened was a general illiteracy regarding the online culture that had engulfed the alleged killer — its memes and codes and ideologies.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Intersectionality proposes that societal problems such as crime and illiteracy correct themselves if opportunities and environments are evened out via public policy.
—John Scott Lewinski, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
From growing up in abject poverty and illiteracy to being one of the world’s most celebrated high jewelry artists.
—Anthony Demarco, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 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 31 Oct. 2025.
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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