American Sign Language
noun
: a sign language that is used especially for communication by and with deaf people and is the formal sign language of the United States and English-speaking Canada and also serves as the basis for various sign languages in other countries (such as Thailand, Nigeria, and Bolivia)
—abbreviation ASL
Note: American Sign Language was developed in Hartford, Connecticut in the early 1800s.
Examples of American Sign Language in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His Super Bowl performance will be accompanied in American Sign Language (ASL) by the actress Stephanie Nogueras.
04 of 06
Ledisi
Like Batiste, R&B mainstay and Grammy-winning singer Ledisi was born and raised in New Orleans.
—
Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2025
In shifting between captioning and interpretation, between American Sign Language and spoken word, Matlin and her director make clear the fluid ways that deaf people move through a world.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
We’re greeted with not only on-screen captions (later, pairing perfectly with stories about Matlin’s fight to make closed captions the standard for TV), but copious scenes of both deaf and hearing talking heads (signing heads?) using American Sign Language to tell stories.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2025
Schultz takes all high honors and AP classes, and is a member of the school’s peer leader program and the American Sign Language program.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
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Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2025
In shifting between captioning and interpretation, between American Sign Language and spoken word, Matlin and her director make clear the fluid ways that deaf people move through a world.
—Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
We’re greeted with not only on-screen captions (later, pairing perfectly with stories about Matlin’s fight to make closed captions the standard for TV), but copious scenes of both deaf and hearing talking heads (signing heads?) using American Sign Language to tell stories.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 23 Jan. 2025
Schultz takes all high honors and AP classes, and is a member of the school’s peer leader program and the American Sign Language program.
—Tom Mulherin, Boston Herald, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for American Sign Language
Dictionary Entries Near American Sign Language
Cite this Entry
“American Sign Language.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/American%20Sign%20Language. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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