Literacy

Literacy

Noun · /ˈlɪt.ər.ə.si/

Definition

The ability to read and write; more broadly, competence or knowledge in a specified area — as in digital literacy, financial literacy, or data literacy.

Origin

From literate (Latin literatus — marked with letters, learned) + -cy. Entered English in the late 19th century as a formal noun. The concept it names is ancient; the word itself is relatively modern.