numeracy

noun

nu·​mer·​acy ˈn(y)ü-mə-rə-sē 

ˈn(y)üm-rə-

: ability to understand and work with numbers : the quality or state of being numerate

The quality of education at the school is outstanding. Levels of literacy and numeracy are exceptionally good and the number of children requiring remedial attention is low.

—Ruth Rendell et al.

Literacy, numeracy and a sense of scientific problem-solving are the fundamental underpinnings of education for everybody, rich and poor alike.

—David Hamburg

Examples of numeracy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In fact, scientists have proven that babies and toddlers show and develop numeracy—the ability to understand and work with numbers—early on. —Shalinee Sharma, TIME, 7 Aug. 2024

Just as literacy is a cornerstone of education, so is numeracy. —Tia Morris, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 2024

In doing so, the birds matched or beat the numeracy skills of human children who often don’t master rudimentary counting until kindergarten. —Jeffrey Kluger, TIME, 5 June 2024

New York University researchers found that the WhatsApp calls were remarkably beneficial for language, numeracy and social-emotional development skills. —Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin numerus number entry 1 + -acy (in literacy)

First Known Use

1959, in the meaning defined above