the ability to read and write
"After years of tutoring, Maria finally achieved full literacy by passing her adult education exam without needing any assistance."
The ability to read and write.
"After years of tutoring, she finally achieved full literacy in both English and Spanish."
In plain English: Literacy is the ability to read and write well enough to handle everyday tasks.
"The school program focuses on improving literacy among young students so they can read and write confidently."
Usage: Literacy refers to the fundamental skill of being able to read and write effectively. It is commonly used to describe general educational attainment or specific competencies like digital literacy.
Literacy comes from combining the word literate with the suffix -cy to form a noun meaning the state of being able to read and write. This construction was adopted into English to describe the skill itself rather than just the person who possesses it.