sign language

noun

1

: any of various formal languages employing a system of hand gestures and their placement relative to the upper body, facial expressions, body postures, and finger spelling especially for communication by and with deaf people

But true sign languages are in fact complete in themselves: their syntax, grammar, and semantics are complete, but they have a different character from that of any spoken or written language.

—Oliver Sacks

Sign language relies mainly on the signer's hand, but facial expressions and body movements are also important.

—Mark Prigg

2

: an unsystematic method of communicating chiefly by manual gestures (as by people speaking different languages)

I decided to cadge a lift from a Lebanese who only spoke Arabic, so we had to converse in sign language.

—Robert Fox

Examples of sign language in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That includes kids who receive special education, but also those in general education classrooms who get supports or accommodations to learn, from speech therapy to sign language interpreters to counseling. —Anna North, Vox, 13 Mar. 2025

Teresa quickly learned sign language to communicate with Connelly's son Brendan, who is deaf. —Suzanne Nuyen, NPR, 9 Mar. 2025

Chimpanzees and gorillas have used sign language to express emotions and ask for things from people. —Leticia Fanucchi, The Conversation, 10 Feb. 2025

Stephanie Nogueras and Otis Jones IV will translate those performances into sign language. —Andy Swift, TVLine, 8 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1824, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sign language

• interlanguage
• metalanguage

Kids Definition

sign language

noun

1

: a formal language using a system of hand movements for communication (as by the deaf)

2

: a way of communicating mainly by hand and arm movements as often used by people speaking different languages

Medical Definition

sign language

noun

: any of various formal languages employing a system of hand gestures and their placement relative to the upper body, facial expressions, body postures, and finger spelling especially for communication by and with deaf people