ILLITERACY Definition & Meaning

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illiteracy

[ ih-lit-er-uh-see ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

plural illiteracies

a lack of ability to read and write.
the state of being illiterate; lack of any or enough education.
a mistake in writing or speaking, felt to be characteristic of an illiterate or semiliterate person:
a letter that was full of illiteracies.

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First recorded in 1650–60; illiter(ate) + -acy

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Examples have not been reviewed.

White illiteracy rates, for instance, were four times higher in the South than in the North.

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She fears that the absence of this support, due to fear and lack of funds, could increase rates of illiteracy.

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Let’s talk about the widespread scientific illiteracy in this country.

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That’s part of it, but I also think the problem is widespread political illiteracy.

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Chronically absent students are at higher risk of illiteracy and eventually dropping out.

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