language

noun

lan·​guage ˈlaŋ-gwij How to pronounce language (audio)
-wij
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 gestureWilliam 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
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 languageRing 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.

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 on the Web The Dalí Museum also selected English translations of Dalí's writings in other languages, including his Mystical Manifesto, Diary of a Genius and The Secret Life of Salvador Dalí. Chloe Veltman, NPR, 21 Apr. 2024 The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 20 Apr. 2024 But Flores said language in the ordinance and included in the permit application to hold demonstrations during the RNC creates a potential liability for organizers. Alison Dirr, Journal Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2024 Its product will be able to handle more than 100 local languages across speech and text, a drive that would widen internet access beyond the country’s urban English-speaking minority. Sankalp Phartiyal, Fortune Asia, 19 Apr. 2024 Federal court records indicate there is a consent decree in which the city will remove from all future City Council meeting agendas — and not enforce — language requiring members of the public to direct their comments to the council as a body, not an individual member of the council or the public. Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press, 19 Apr. 2024 These families are neglected in education by systemic barriers, like language access and poverty, Soto added. Mathew Miranda, Sacramento Bee, 18 Apr. 2024 Even so, Google Translate still struggles to keep up with all the ways language evolves. Victoria Song, The Verge, 18 Apr. 2024 Youngkin proposed substitute language that would make the legislation an expression of the sentiment of the legislature, rather than add it to state law. Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'language.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of language was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near language

Cite this Entry

“Language.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/language. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

language

noun
lan·​guage ˈlaŋ-gwij How to pronounce language (audio)
1
a
: the words, their pronunciation, and the methods of combining them used and understood by a large group of people
b
: a means of communicating ideas
sign language
2
: the means by which animals communicate or are thought to communicate with each other
language of the bees
3
: a system of signs and symbols and rules for using them that is used to carry information
BASIC is a computer language
4
: the way in which words are used
strong language
5
: the words and expressions of a particular group or field
the language of medicine
6
: the study of language
Etymology

Middle English language "language," from early French language (same meaning), from langue "language, tongue," from Latin lingua "tongue, language"

Word Origin
The tongue plays an important part in human speech. Different sounds are made by different positions of the tongue. The tongue and speech are so closely connected that in many languages the word that means "tongue" also means "language." This is true in English, as when we say "she spoke a foreign tongue." It was also true in Latin, where the word lingua meant both "tongue" and "language." From the Latin lingua came the early French langue, meaning "tongue, language," which gave rise to the early French word language. The English word language comes directly from this early French word.

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