illiteracy

il·lit·er·a·cy

noun \(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-t(ə-)rə-sē\

plural il·lit·er·a·cies

Definition of ILLITERACY

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

1. the government's efforts to reduce illiteracy
2. His letters contain many misspellings and illiteracies.

First Known Use of ILLITERACY

1660

Related to ILLITERACY

Synonyms: ignorance

Antonyms: learning, literacy

Related Words: functional illiteracy, innumeracy; brainlessness, dumbness, idiocy, imbecility, stupidity; philistinism; foolishness, mindlessness, senselessness, witlessness

Near Antonyms: education, instruction, training; enlightenment, knowledge; erudition, scholarship

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Other Education Terms

baccalaureate, colloquium, corequisite, dissertation, monograph, pedant, practicum, survey course, thesis