fingerspelling

American

[fing-ger-spel-ing] / ˈfɪŋ gərˌspɛl ɪŋ /

noun

the communication in sign language of a word or other expression by rendering its written form letter by letter in a manual alphabet.

Etymology

Origin of fingerspelling

finger + spelling

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

fingerspelling

When he finished fingerspelling my name, nervous relief flooded his face.

From New York Times ● Oct. 5, 2022

Alice Rash, a teacher at the California School for the Deaf, added that she was impressed by the nuance in Jackie and his father’s exchange, like the use of fingerspelling.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 11, 2022

The company launched fingerspelling mobile app Ace ASL for iOS in April, and for Android earlier this month.

From The Verge ● Sep. 21, 2021

I spoke to Richer via email about what she thought of this year’s Oscars, her experience working on The Shape of Water, and that one particularly profane fingerspelling scene.

From Slate ● Mar. 12, 2018

But there's a big cultural and political difference between fingerspelling and British Sign Language.

From BBC ● Apr. 30, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023