language

noun lan·guage \ ˈlaŋ-gwij , -wij \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Definition of language

1 a : the words, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining them used and understood by a community

studied the French language

b (1) : audible, articulate, meaningful sound as produced by the action of the vocal organs

(2) : a systematic means of communicating ideas or feelings by the use of conventionalized signs, sounds, gestures, or marks having understood meanings

the language of mathematics

(3) : the suggestion by objects, actions, or conditions of associated ideas or feelings

language in their very gesture
—William Shakespeare

(4) : the means by which animals communicate

the language of birds

(5) : a formal system of signs and symbols (such as FORTRAN or a calculus in logic) including rules for the formation and transformation of admissible expressions

(6) : machine language 1

2 a : form or manner of verbal expression; specifically : style

the beauty of Shakespeare's language

b : the vocabulary and phraseology belonging to an art or a department of knowledge

the language of diplomacy

medical language

c : profanity

shouldn't of blamed the fellers if they'd cut loose with some language
—Ring Lardner

3 : the study of language especially as a school subject

earned a grade of B in language

4 : specific words especially in a law or regulation

The police were diligent in enforcing the language of the law.

See language defined for English-language learners

See language defined for kids

Examples of language in a Sentence

How many languages do you speak?
French is her first language.
The book has been translated into several languages.
He's learning English as a second language.
a new word that has recently entered the language
the formal language of the report
the beauty of Shakespeare's language
She expressed her ideas using simple and clear language.
He is always careful in his use of language.

Recent Examples of language from the Web

Todd Ringle tweeted about the new rules Tuesday and explained to drivers in a thread that while these colors were already required by law, the new legislation features updated language and eliminates possible loopholes.

— justin l. mack, Indianapolis Star, "Make sure your headlights comply with this new Indiana law, starting July 1," 13 June 2018
The group has played together extensively in recent years, developing a kinetic language and an active sense of restrained interplay, with each capable of taking one of the other’s musical ideas and pressing it into action.

— john adamian, courant.com, "Seven Concerts You Might Want To See (And Why)," 9 June 2018
Congressional efforts to codify a strict limit on prescribing opioids are inconsistent with both the language and spirit of the guidelines.

— lev facher, STAT, "As opioids legislation gains steam, efforts to address crisis collide with moneyed interests," 7 June 2018
Style is a language, and to turn away from Suspiria‘s fuchsia-blood-splattered, art nouveau gothic bordello-a-go-go aesthetic is to deprive yourself of one of moviedom’s great visual pleasures.

— stephanie zacharek, Time, "The Artfully Made Hereditary Is the Latest Horror Film to Elevate the Genre," 7 June 2018
Identify and analyze figurative language and literary structures in biblical texts.

— supriya sridhar, The Courier-Journal, "State ed board approves Bible literacy standards for public schools," 6 June 2018
Some of this simply the fact that Nadal is not Roger Federer, who grew up a few hours away, speaks the language, and whose values are more consistent with high culture and fashion and the Moet lifestyle.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Mailbag: The Curious Case of Novak Djokovic," 6 June 2018
That art of listening to language and getting to the heart of what matters is what informs Cole's poetry.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Michelle Constantine Cole's "Untitled:Twentyfive" To Be Released June 15," 6 June 2018
Earlier this year, People reported that the royal kids are required to learn more than one language and that Princess Charlotte is already learning Spanish.

— kayleigh roberts, Marie Claire, "Princess Charlotte Isn't Allowed to Sit With Her Parents During Royal Visit Dinners," 2 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'language.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of language

Middle English, from Anglo-French langage, from lange, langue tongue, language, from Latin lingua — more at tongue

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

language Synonyms

Synonyms

lingo, mother tongue, speech, tongue, vocabulary;

colloquialism, localism, provincialism, regionalism, shibboleth, vernacularism;

terminology;

coinage, modernism, neologism;

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

LANGUAGE Defined for English Language Learners

language

noun

Definition of language for English Language Learners

: the system of words or signs that people use to express thoughts and feelings to each other
: any one of the systems of human language that are used and understood by a particular group of people
: words of a particular kind