body language

American  

noun

1. nonverbal, usually unconscious, communication through the use of postures, gestures, facial expressions, and the like.

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body language British  

noun

1. the nonverbal imparting of information by means of conscious or subconscious bodily gestures, posture, etc

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Etymology

Origin of body language

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

Goalkeepers also look for clues in the kicker’s body language.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026

Maniscalco pulls audiences in with contortionist levels of body language that he uses to demonstrate his observations of absurd human behavior, from splitting dinner tabs with Venmo to taping our mouths shut for sleep.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 22, 2026

The singers, meanwhile, function to an unusual degree as choreographed characters in a cartoon, leaving little opportunity for body language, allowing, instead, individual expression almost exclusively to their voices.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

She has speech and language impairment but is able to communicate via body language, pointing and communication aids such as books which help her to indicate her thoughts and feelings.

From BBC • May 14, 2026

There is a certain inflection of voice and body language that signals a crowd to applaud.

From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss

Related Words

• gesture