illiteracy

noun4

1. •
   The inability to read and write.

   • Illiteracy is widespread in certain areas of the country.
2. •
   Unlearnedness; the state of being ignorant or unlettered.
3. •
   The portion of a population unable to read and write, generally given as a percentage.
4. •
   A word, phrase, or grammatical turn thought to be characteristic of an illiterate person.