language arts
Americannoun
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(used with a plural verb) the skills, including reading, composition, speech, spelling, and grammar, taught in elementary and secondary schools to give students a thorough proficiency in using the language.
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(used with a singular verb) a core course of instruction in an elementary or secondary school where students develop these skills.
Etymology
Origin of language arts
First recorded in 1945–50
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.
Fewer than half of California students meet state standards in English language arts and math.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026
Currently, high school students need 24 credits to graduate, and many of those credits are in core subjects such as language arts, social studies, math and science.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 12, 2024
Acknowledging the role school librarians play in that effort, the new media literacy law directs state officials to incorporate model library standards in the K-12 English language arts curriculum next year.
From Washington Times ● Dec. 5, 2023
Media literacy content will be included in English language arts, mathematics, science, history and social science curriculums.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2023
Whenever I forget to take the chicken out of the freezer, she lectures me—and then proceeds to prosecute me for forgetting to turn in my language arts essay.
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.
