# literacy

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈlɪtəɹəsi/ · frequency rank #8,313

## Definitions
1. The ability to read and write.
2. The ability to understand and evaluate something.

## Etymology
From literate + -cy.

## Easily confused with
- **literal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literacy-vs-literal)
- **literary** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literacy-vs-literary)
- **literate** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literacy-vs-literate)
- **literally** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/literacy-vs-literally)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ilteracy`, `lietracy`, `litearcy`, `literaccy`, `literacyy`, `literayc`, `litercay`, `literracy`, `litreacy`, `litteracy`, `lliteracy`, `ltieracy`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/literacy