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 U.S. 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

On a recent day, one of the students in the office is Naomi Thrower, a junior majoring in Deaf Studies and American Sign Language. — Elissa Nadworny, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026

Even as American Sign Language grows in visibility and is widely recognized as a distinct language (with distinct wordplay, at that), ASL has yet to see its own sign of the year. — New York Times, 22 Oct. 2026

Each chapter ends with information about American Sign Language (ASL) — its beauty and its nuances. — The Know, Denver Post, 6 Oct. 2026

Microsoft provides customer support in American Sign Language via video call. — Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for American Sign Language

• interlanguage
• metalanguage

Kids Definition

American Sign Language

noun

: a sign language for the deaf