Illiteracy
Definition, Meaning & Examples
Pronunciation /ɪˈlɪtəɹəsi/ · Part of speech noun
Quick meaning: Illiteracy is a noun meaning (uncountable) The inability to read and write.
Meaning
(uncountable) The inability to read and write.
More Meanings
- (uncountable) The portion of a population unable to read and write, generally given as a percentage.
- (countable) A word, phrase, or grammatical turn thought to be characteristic of an illiterate person.
- (uncountable, by extension) Unlearnedness; the state of being ignorant or unlettered.
Example Sentences
Illiteracy is widespread in certain areas of the country.
The heroines of these plays speak out against intraracial biases, stereotyping, lynchmobs, illiteracy, poverty, promiscuity, self-righteousness, verbally abusive men, rape, and miscegenation. […] Without warning the doctor, she chokes the life out of her child in order to keep him safe from white lynchmobs.
Word Forms
- illiteracies
Synonyms for illiteracy
Depending on context, synonyms include analphabetism.
Antonyms for illiteracy
Common opposites include literacy.
Related Words
Related dictionary entries include illiterate, ignorant, ignorance, blindness, dyslexia, briefing.
Related Dictionary Tools
Sources & Attribution
FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0
Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.