SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

visual literacy

noun

Definition of visual literacy

: the ability to recognize and understand ideas conveyed through visible actions or images (such as pictures)

First Known Use of visual literacy

1971

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up visual literacy? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

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WORD OF THE DAY

nobby

play

cleverly stylish

Words at Play

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Drawing a Conclusion About "Sketchy"

How did "sketchy" come to describe creeps?

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What's the Singular of 'Scissors'?

A tricky, double-edged word origin.

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Great Words for Twilight and Darkness

Words for the goth in all of us

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Helium: This Word Brought to You by a Solar Eclipse

And by the Sun, with some help from Greek.

Ask the Editors

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Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

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Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

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Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

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Time Traveler Quiz: Which Word Came First?

Which word entered the English language first?

Take the quiz

Name More Food!

Test your knowledge of food vocabulary!

Take the quiz

True or False?

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

Take the quiz

Bee Cubed

Listen to the words and spell through all three levels.

Play the game