illiteracy

n. inability to read and write; ignorance, lack of education

The traditional definition of literacy is considered to be the ability to read and write, or the ability to use language to read, write, listen, and speak. In modern contexts, the word refers to reading and writing at a level adequate for communication, or at a level that lets one understand and communicate ideas in a literate society, so as to take part in that society. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has drafted the following definition: "Literacy is the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, communicate and compute, using printed and written materials associated with varying contexts. Literacy involves a continuum of learning to enable an individual to achieve his or her goals, to develop his or her knowledge and potential, and to participate fully in the wider society."
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Illiteracy Social medicine The inability to read and write. See Complete illiteracy, Functional illiteracy. [more]Illiteracy - Community and Resources

Noun
1. ignorance resulting from not reading
(hypernym) ignorance
2. an inability to read
(synonym) analphabetism
(antonym) literacy
(hypernym) inability

(n.)
The state of being illiterate, or uneducated; want of learning, or knowledge; ignorance; specifically, inability to read and write; as, the illiteracy shown by the last census.
  

(n.)
An instance of ignorance; a literary blunder.