aliteracyn.
/ˌeɪˈlɪt(ə)rəsi/, U.S. /ˌeɪˈlɪtrəsi/, /ˌeɪˈlɪdərəsi/ Disinclination to read, despite having the ability to do so. Cf. illiteracy n., aliterate adj.
ΘΚΠ
society > communication > reading > reader > [noun] > disinclination to read
non-reading1893
aliteracy1968
1968 Southern Folklore Q. 32 239 Other theorists, however,..prefer..to work within a large concept of aliteracy.
1978 C. B. Smith et al. Teaching Reading in Secondary School Content Subj. iv. 75 What can be done..to combat the trend toward ‘aliteracy’, a characteristic of students who can read but choose not to read?
1982 Publishers Weekly 1 Oct. 34/1 The nation's decision-making process..is threatened by those who can read but won't, Townsend Hooper..told some 50 persons attending an ‘a-literacy’ conference.
1990 Times 18 Apr. 13/5 The process is due, of course, to the triumph of television, and the vast aliteracy of our time—people can read but don't.
2011 Guardian 20 May (G2 section) 3/2 Lost in Showbiz is toying with the idea of launching a telethon for celebrity aliteracy.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2012; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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n.1968