sign language
noun
1
: any of various formal languages employing a system of hand gestures and their placement relative to the upper body, facial expressions, body postures, and finger spelling especially for communication by and with deaf people
But true sign languages are in fact complete in themselves: their syntax, grammar, and semantics are complete, but they have a different character from that of any spoken or written language.—
Oliver Sacks
Oliver SacksSign language relies mainly on the signer's hand, but facial expressions and body movements are also important.—Mark Prigg
Mark Prigg2
: an unsystematic method of communicating chiefly by manual gestures (as by people speaking different languages)
I decided to cadge a lift from a Lebanese who only spoke Arabic, so we had to converse in sign language.—Robert Fox
Robert FoxExamples of sign language in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
His family now needs to use sign language to communicate with him.
—Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
The younger Guy, now 2, is not speaking yet but has gotten better at making eye contact and using sign language to communicate words.
—Vicky Nguyen, NBC news, 5 June 2025
In October 2023, the FCC approved rules to update the federal emergency alert system by enabling Wireless Emergency Alerts to be delivered in more than a dozen languages — not just English, Spanish and sign language — without the need for a translator.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025
For people and children who can’t read text fast enough, or for those who simply prefer sign language, a browser extension overlays a human interpreter on more than 300 titles on streaming platforms like Disney+, Peacock and Netflix.
—Alan Schwarz, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sign language
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Mosab Abu Toha, New Yorker, 12 June 2025
The younger Guy, now 2, is not speaking yet but has gotten better at making eye contact and using sign language to communicate words.
—Vicky Nguyen, NBC news, 5 June 2025
In October 2023, the FCC approved rules to update the federal emergency alert system by enabling Wireless Emergency Alerts to be delivered in more than a dozen languages — not just English, Spanish and sign language — without the need for a translator.
—Jenny Jarvie, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2025
For people and children who can’t read text fast enough, or for those who simply prefer sign language, a browser extension overlays a human interpreter on more than 300 titles on streaming platforms like Disney+, Peacock and Netflix.
—Alan Schwarz, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sign language
Cite this Entry
“Sign language.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sign%20language. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.
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