functionally illiterate
2
8.2
- adjective
- /ˈfʌŋkʃənəli ɪˈlɪtərət/
:
analfabeto funcional
- Indeed, it is estimated that 30% of the current adult U.S. population is functionally illiterate.
- functionally illiterate adults
Examples
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About 13 percent of all 17-year-olds in the United States can be considered functionally illiterate.
Blog text (30) -
Significant numbers of students are leaving schools functionally illiterate.
Academic text (1994) -
Some 23 million American adults are functionally illiterate.
Blog text (30) -
In the United States today, one-quarter of all adults are functionally illiterate.
Academic text (1999) -
For years, everyone has worried about the functionally illiterate public school graduate who has trouble reading, writing, and completing simple mathematical computations.
Academic text (2006) -
Nearly one-fifth of the American public is functionally illiterate (Kirsch, Jungeblut, Jenkins, & Kolstad, 1993).
Academic text (2009) -
According to recent studies, approximately 20% of adults in the U.S. are considered functionally illiterate, lacking the skills needed for daily tasks.
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Many employers are concerned that too many job applicants are functionally illiterate and cannot fill out basic forms.
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Programs aimed at adult education are essential, as they help individuals who are functionally illiterate improve their reading and writing skills.
Synonyms
1
7.6
Only able to read and write at a very basic level
1
8.9
Having very low reading and writing skills
Antonyms
How Literate
32
6.0
11
2.5
1
7.6
2
8.2
29
3.7
Surface Forms
Morphology
The adjective phrase is transparently built from 'functionally' (in terms of functioning) + 'illiterate' (unable to read or write), so a learner who knows both constituents can infer it means lacking sufficient literacy for everyday or work-related tasks rather than complete inability. This compositional meaning is predictable and mirrors similar constructions in many languages, making it accessible to B1 learners who know the component words.
Etymology
Functionally illiterate comes from putting functionally ('in everyday use') together with illiterate ('cannot read or write'). Imagine a person who can read a few words but cannot 'function' at work, fill out forms, or follow written instructions, so the phrase means 'unable to use reading and writing for everyday tasks'.