illiteracy

noun

(ˌ)i(l)-ˈli-t(ə-)rə-sē How to pronounce illiteracy (audio)
Definition of illiteracynext
as in ignorance
the state of being unlearned far too many children are doomed to a lifetime of illiteracy in that country

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of illiteracy This historical illiteracy – as well as a fundamental lack of understanding about what constitutes anti-Semitism – leaves institutions without clear standards for addressing the centuries-old hatred. — Kenneth L. Marcus, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026 And, contrary to some of its predecessors, The Audacity foregrounds the human wreckage that results from this explosive combination of emotional illiteracy and immense power. — Miles Klee, Wired News, 12 Apr. 2026 Integrity Children's Fund is a nonprofit organization that aims to reduce illiteracy among Jamaican and immigrant children by providing educational resources to underprivileged schools, according to the organization's official website. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 18 May 2026 An early example was Radio Sutatenza, launched in 1947 by a Catholic priest hoping to combat illiteracy in rural communities of Colombia; the local effort eventually expanded to provide a variety of educational programming across a national network. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 23 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for illiteracy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for illiteracy
ignorance
Noun
  • The once-vaunted values of public life are now reduced to the lower standards of private life—venality, vulgarity, rudeness, incontinence, and ignorance.
    — Simon Sebag Montefiore, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
  • Not the innocence of ignorance.
    — Anthony Scaramucci, Fortune, 28 June 2026
Definition of ignorance

Browse Nearby Words

illimitable
illiteracy
illiterate
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Cite this Entry

“Illiteracy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/illiteracy. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of illiteracy for Spanish Speakers

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