Definitions for Literacy
ˈlɪt ər ə silit·er·a·cy

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. literacynoun

   the ability to read and write

WiktionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

1. literacynoun

   the ability to read

2. literacynoun

   understanding of something (ex. computer literacy)

3. Etymology: From literate + -cy

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Literacy

   Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, humans in literate societies have sets of practices for producing and consuming writing, and they also have beliefs about these practices. Reading, in this view, is always reading something for some purpose; writing is always writing something for someone for some particular ends. Beliefs about reading and writing and its value for society and for the individual always influence the ways literacy is taught, learned, and practiced over the lifespan. Some researchers suggest that the history of interest in the concept of "literacy" can be divided into two periods. Firstly is the period before 1950, when literacy was understood solely as alphabetical literacy (word and letter recognition). Secondly is the period after 1950, when literacy slowly began to be considered as a wider concept and process, including the social and cultural aspects of reading and writing, and functional literacy.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:4.3 / 3 votes

1. Literacynoun

   state of being literate

FreebaseRate this definition:4.2 / 17 votes

1. Literacy

   Literacy is the ability to read and write one's own name and further for knowledge and interest, write coherently, and think critically about the written word. The inability to do so is called illiteracy or analphabetism. Visual literacy includes in addition the ability to understand all forms of communication, be it body language, pictures, maps, or video. Evolving definitions of literacy often include all the symbol systems relevant to a particular community. Literacy encompasses a complex set of abilities to understand and use the dominant symbol systems of a culture for personal and community development. In a technological society, the concept of literacy is expanding to include the media and electronic text, in addition to alphabetic and number systems. These abilities vary in different social and cultural contexts according to need and demand. The primary sense of literacy still represents the lifelong, intellectual process of gaining meaning from a critical interpretation of the written or printed text. Key to all literacy is reading development, a progression of skills that begins with the ability to understand spoken words and decode written words, and culminates in the deep understanding of text. Reading development involves a range of complex language underpinnings including awareness of speech sounds, spelling patterns, word meaning, grammar and patterns of word formation, all of which provide a necessary platform for reading fluency and comprehension. Once these skills are acquired the reader can attain full language literacy, which includes the abilities to approach printed material with critical analysis, inference and synthesis; to write with accuracy and coherence; and to use information and insights from text as the basis for informed decisions and creative thought.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. literacy

   The natural human ability and skills to intuitively feel, know, understand and use the brain and mind to read and write using language.

   Literacy is important for us human beings to learn, grow and evolve on planet earth as it effects each facet of our lives.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on November 27, 2020  

Matched Categories

1. • Skill

How to pronounce Literacy?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Literacy in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Literacy in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Literacy in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of Literacy in a Sentence

1. Mark Ronchetti:

   We're 51st in education in this state, now that they count D.C., and they go and lay out social studies standards that are not designed to fight our literacy issues, not designed to fight our math issues or writing issues, they're designed to divide kids, and it makes no sense.

2. Philip Glanville:

   The messaging and rules have been unclear for lots of people who want to be vaccinated, it's not been the fault of people on the ground in Hackney, but as a volunteer, I've had to turn people away who turned up with an elderly relative and asked if they could have one too. The sad reality is, if people have poor literacy or digital skills, don't really understand the rules and get turned away, they might just give up.

3. Nicholas Gothard:

   While both my opponents spend their time pandering to an organization that has championed hate against our LGBT students and their families, I am spending my time in our community, talking to students, teachers, and families about school infrastructure, literacy curriculum, and STEM programs, loudoun deserves an effective and driven leader with a track record of success, not someone who will perpetuate failed culture war narratives. I know Loudoun voters are smart enough to know which candidate truly shares their values, and that's why I'm confident we will win in November.

4. Fernand Amandi:

   When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program. Is that a bad thing? Even though Fidel Castro did it? Sanders, a self-described democratic socialist, has refused to back down from his comments arguing during Tuesday nights debate in South Carolina that former President Barack Obama had once praised the Castro regimes progress on education and healthcare. The Vermont lawmaker said there is a reticence among Americans to look back at Washingtons own history of overthrowing foreign governments and supporting dictators. It might be a good idea to be honest of American foreign policy and that is the American government helped overthrow governments in Chile, Nicaragua, and Iran, Sanders said in reference to U.S. support in overthrowing leaders in those countries in the 1970s and 80s. Sanders reference to Obama did not sit well with former Vice President Joe Biden, who claimed that his boss never embraced an authoritarian regime, while former South Bend, Ind. Mayor Pete Buttigieg lamented that the candidates were debating about Cold War-era policies. This is not about what coups happened in the 1970s and 80s, this is about the future, Buttigieg said. Sanders comments about the Castro regime could play a large role in how he fares in Floridas March 17 primary. Sanders socialist identification and his willingness to praise leftist regimes have given his Democratic opponents ammunition to question his electability in a state with a large Cuban American population that remains fiercely skeptical of leftist governments. In Florida, where Hispanics account for nearly one in every five voters, that skepticism could present a major hurdle for Sanders in the states primary, and for Democrats hoping to win Floridas 29 electoral votes in November. According to an Associated Press survey, about a third of Cuban American midterm voters identified as Democrats. However, Democrats hardly have a lock on that vote in battleground Florida, particularly among the nearly 2 million Floridians of Cuban, Venezuelan and Nicaraguan origin. In 2018, Republican Ron DeSantis narrowly won Floridas governors mansion. While more than two-fifths of Florida Latinos voters favored DeSantis overall, a clear majority of Cuban American voters 57 percent cast their support for the Republican. Critics say Sanders needs to more strongly disavow Cuba and other authoritarian regimes. Its not just about Cuban American voters, its Hispanic voters as well, many of whom would never consider voting for an avowed socialist ....

5. Mark Bailey:

   A sense of ecological literacy is as important to our existence as a species as text-based literacy.

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