literacy

noun

lit·​er·​a·​cy ˈli-t(ə-)rə-sē 

: the quality or state of being literate

a program to promote adult literacy

Synonyms

• education
• knowledge
• learning
• scholarship

Examples of literacy in a Sentence

The program is intended to promote adult literacy among people who have had very little schooling.

Their goal is to achieve basic literacy.

Recent Examples on the Web

This includes setting healthy social media and screen time boundaries, promoting digital literacy, emphasizing critical media education, and having open and honest conversations about idealized beauty standards and self-image. —​wendy Wisner, Parents, 21 Oct. 2025

But after vetoes by successive Presidents, a literacy test wasn’t implemented until 1917, when Congress overrode Woodrow Wilson’s veto. —Chad De Guzman, Time, 21 Oct. 2025

For now, skepticism is the new literacy. —Jennifer Jolly, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025

The banking group’s philanthropic arm is donating a half million dollars to each of 50 groups worldwide that provide digital literacy skills, technical training and career guidance for low-income youth. —James Pollard, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1880, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing literacy

• visual literacy

Rhymes for literacy

• illiteracy

Kids Definition

literacy

noun

lit·​er·​a·​cy ˈlit-ə-rə-sē 

ˈli-trə-sē

: the quality or state of being literate

computer literacy

especially : ability to read and write