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Definition of literacy noun from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

literacy

noun
 
/ˈlɪtərəsi/
 
/ˈlɪtərəsi/
[uncountable]
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  1. the ability to read and write
    • a campaign to promote adult literacy
    • basic literacy skills
    • Most of the students here need help with literacy and numeracy.
    opposite illiteracy
    Extra Examples
    • All the children are tested in basic literacy.
    • Literacy rates are lower among people from the poorer income groups.
    • Standards of literacy are slowly rising in the 5–8 age group.
    Topics Educationc1
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective
    • basic
    • adult
    • mass
    verb + literacy
    • achieve
    • acquire
    • develop
    literacy + noun
    • campaign
    • initiative
    • programme/​program
    See full entry
  2. (in compounds) knowledge or skills in a specific area
    • financial/health literacy
    • We’re looking to hire an assistant with a high level of digital literacy.
    see also computer literacyTopics Educationc1
  3. Word Originlate 19th cent.: from literate, on the pattern of illiteracy.
See literacy in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee literacy in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English

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