SKIP TO CONTENT

sign language

/ˌsaɪn ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ/
/saɪn ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ/
IPA guide

Other forms: sign languages

Sign language is a language that uses hand gestures, body movements, and facial expressions to convey meaning, rather than spoken words.

In the U.S., the main sign language is known as American Sign Language. Groups of hearing impaired people have developed sign languages throughout history, some of which consisted only of signed letters. Major sign languages today require fingerspelling of some less-common words and names, both most words are represented by distinct signs. There are as many as 500,000 sign language speakers in the U.S. alone.

Definitions of sign language
  1. noun
    language expressed by visible hand gestures
    synonyms: signing
    see moresee less
    types:
    finger spelling, fingerspelling
    an alphabet of manual signs
    ASL, American sign language
    the sign language used in the United States
    type of:
    language, linguistic communication
    a systematic means of communicating by the use of sounds or conventional symbols
Pronunciation
US
/ˌsaɪn ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ/
UK
/saɪn ˈlæŋgwɪdʒ/
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘sign language'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family