numeracy

noun

nu·​mer·​acy ˈn(y)ü-mə-rə-sē 

ˈn(y)üm-rə-

: ability to understand and work with numbers : the quality or state of being numerate

The quality of education at the school is outstanding. Levels of literacy and numeracy are exceptionally good and the number of children requiring remedial attention is low.

—Ruth Rendell et al.

Literacy, numeracy and a sense of scientific problem-solving are the fundamental underpinnings of education for everybody, rich and poor alike.

—David Hamburg

Examples of numeracy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

What Education Leaders Can Do From my perspective, school administrators could advocate for a standardized, rigorous and focused curriculum emphasizing core literacy, numeracy, critical thinking and problem solving. —Luke Lombe, Forbes.com, 24 Apr. 2025

Every child in New York deserves the chance to learn basic literacy, numeracy, science, and civics — skills essential for participating in society, holding a job, and fulfilling civic duties like voting or serving on a jury. —David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025

Rather than paying organizations to build a certain number of schools and train a certain number of teachers, for example, donors should award grants to the programs that can deliver the biggest improvements in functional literacy and numeracy for the most people. —David Miliband, Foreign Affairs, 16 June 2015

Adult numeracy and literacy skills around the world have been declining since 2017. —David Brooks, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin numerus number entry 1 + -acy (in literacy)

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above