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

Disney parks make other accommodations for disabled visitors, including maps in Braille, a device that helps transfer visitors from wheelchairs to ride seats, quiet break locations and American Sign Language interpreters for some live shows. —Mike Schneider, Fortune, 8 Dec. 2025

To test the difference, the team tried reconstructing 15 letters of the American Sign Language alphabet using each synergy set. —Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 4 Dec. 2025

Spanish and American Sign Language interpreters will be provided. —Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 3 Dec. 2025

Fred Beam and Julian Ortiz will serve as American Sign Language interpreters. —Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 Dec. 2025

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