illiteracy

il- +‎ literacy

• IPA^(key): /ɪˈlɪtəɹəsi/, /ɪˈlɪt͡ʃɹəsi/

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illiteracy (countable and uncountable, plural illiteracies)

1. (uncountable) The inability to read and write.

   Illiteracy is widespread in certain areas of the country.

2. (uncountable) The portion of a population unable to read and write, generally given as a percentage.
3. (countable) A word, phrase, or grammatical turn thought to be characteristic of an illiterate person.
4. (uncountable, by extension) Unlearnedness; the state of being ignorant or unlettered.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:illiteracy.

• analphabetism

• literacy

• innumeracy
• semiliteracy
• subliteracy

• aliteracy
• illiterate

• alphabetism