CultureAugust 10, 2026

postliterate

pohst-LIT-uh-rit

Definition

Relating to a society or culture in which traditional literacy, such as reading and writing, has declined in importance or relevance, often due to the dominance of visual media and digital communication.

Etymology

The word combines the prefix 'post-', meaning 'after', with 'literate', which originates from the Latin 'litteratus' meaning 'learned' or 'marked with letters'. It evolved to describe an era succeeding the age where written text was the primary medium of information exchange.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the potential transition of modern society away from print-based learning toward digital or audiovisual formats, questioning the cultural impact of this shift.

According To The Atlantic Writer, The Age of Reading Is Over? The US Literacy Debacle vs. The Art of Reading

Read the full article ↗

thewatchdogonline.com

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