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
Fred Beam and Julian Ortiz will serve as American Sign Language interpreters.
—
Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
Instead, Meyers Taylor, recovering from a C-section, figured things out on her own while simultaneously teaching herself American Sign Language.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Fred Beam and Julian Ortiz will serve as American Sign Language interpreters.
—Catherine Messier, The Patriot Ledger, 6 Feb. 2026
Bad Bunny, Puth, Carlile and Jones will be joined by American Sign Language performers Fred Beam and Julian Ortiz, along with Puerto Rican Sign Language performer Celimar Rivera Cosme.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for American Sign Language
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Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 8 Feb. 2026
Instead, Meyers Taylor, recovering from a C-section, figured things out on her own while simultaneously teaching herself American Sign Language.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
Fred Beam and Julian Ortiz will serve as American Sign Language interpreters.
—Catherine Messier, The Patriot Ledger, 6 Feb. 2026
Bad Bunny, Puth, Carlile and Jones will be joined by American Sign Language performers Fred Beam and Julian Ortiz, along with Puerto Rican Sign Language performer Celimar Rivera Cosme.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 3 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for 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 14 Feb. 2026.
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