/i lit"euhr euh see/ , n. , pl. illiteracies for 3.
1. a lack of ability to read and write.
2. the state of being illiterate; lack of any or enough education.
3. a mistake in writing or speaking, felt to be characteristic of an illiterate or semiliterate person: a letter that was full of illiteracies.
[ 1650-60; ILLITER(ATE) + -ACY ]