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Synonyms

American Sign Language

American  

noun

  1. a visual-gesture language, having its own semantic and syntactic structure, used by deaf people in the U.S. and English-speaking parts of Canada. ASL

American sign language British  

noun

  1. See Ameslan

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of American Sign Language

First recorded in 1960–65

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.

Although a few chimps understand and can communicate using basic American Sign Language, caregivers often have difficulty figuring out the meaning of other behaviors.

From Salon • Jun. 5, 2024

His team previously developed a wearable glove capable of translating American Sign Language into English speech in real time to help users of ASL communicate with those who don't know how to sign.

From Science Daily • Mar. 15, 2024

Her troop has used its earnings for programs involving coding and robotics, as well as American Sign Language.

From New York Times • Feb. 3, 2024

Gomez also works as an American Sign Language interpreter for the deaf.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 1, 2024

Ever since I met her, we’ve been communicating primarily through American Sign Language.

From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.