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language

[ lang-gwij ]

/ ˈlæŋ gwɪdʒ /

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See synonyms for: language / languages on Thesaurus.com

noun

a body of words and the systems for their use common to a people who are of the same community or nation, the same geographical area, or the same cultural tradition: the two languages of Belgium; a Bantu language; the French language; the Yiddish language.

communication by voice in the distinctively human manner, using arbitrary sounds in conventional ways with conventional meanings; speech.

the system of linguistic signs or symbols considered in the abstract (opposed to speech).

any set or system of such symbols as used in a more or less uniform fashion by a number of people, who are thus enabled to communicate intelligibly with one another.

any system of formalized symbols, signs, sounds, gestures, or the like used or conceived as a means of communicating thought, emotion, etc.: the language of mathematics; sign language.

the means of communication used by animals: the language of birds.

communication of meaning in any way; medium that is expressive, significant, etc.: the language of flowers; the language of art.

linguistics; the study of language.

the speech or phraseology peculiar to a class, profession, etc.; lexis; jargon.

a particular manner of verbal expression: flowery language.

choice of words or style of writing; diction: the language of poetry.

Computers. a set of characters and symbols and syntactic rules for their combination and use, by means of which a computer can be given directions: The language of many commercial application programs is COBOL.

a nation or people considered in terms of their speech.

Archaic. faculty or power of speech.

OTHER WORDS FOR language

4, 9 tongue; terminology; lingo, lingua franca.

See synonyms for language on Thesaurus.com

VIDEO FOR LANGUAGE

Calling All Wordies: Why Do You Love Language And Words?

We're asking you, Dictionary.com wordies (a person with an enthusiastic interest in words and language; a logophile), to tell us why you love language and words. Go!

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QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

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Origin of language

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Anglo-French, variant spelling of langage, derivative of langue “tongue.” See lingua, -age

synonym study for language

2. See speech. 4, 9. Language, dialect, jargon, vernacular refer to linguistic configurations of vocabulary, syntax, phonology, and usage that are characteristic of communities of various sizes and types. Language is a broad term applied to the overall linguistic configurations that allow a particular people to communicate: the English language; the French language. Dialect is applied to certain forms or varieties of a language, often those that provincial communities or special groups retain (or develop) even after a standard has been established: Scottish dialect; regional dialect; Southern dialect. A jargon is either an artificial linguistic configuration used by a particular (usually occupational) group within a community or a special configuration created for communication in a particular business or trade or for communication between members of groups that speak different languages: computer jargon; the Chinook jargon. A vernacular is the authentic natural pattern--the ordinary speech--of a given language, now usually on the informal level. It is at once congruent with and, in relatively small ways, distinguished from the standard language in syntax, vocabulary, usage, and pronunciation. It is used by persons indigenous to a certain community, large or small.

OTHER WORDS FROM language

pre·lan·guage, adjective

Words nearby language

Langshan, Langston, langsyne, Langton, Langtry, language, language acquisition device, language arts, language barrier, language death, language laboratory

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use language in a sentence

It offers a more searing version of events than the sometimes technical language in previous crash reports and investigations, including one conducted by the Transportation Department’s Inspector General.
Boeing crashes were the “horrific culmination” of multiple mistakes, House report says|kdunn6|September 16, 2020|Fortune
The language that was used — that could have possibly had a chilling effect on other people coming forward — shouldn’t have been allowed.
Can Anita Hill Forgive Joe Biden … and Work With Him?|Pallabi Munsi|September 14, 2020|Ozy
Toucan raises $3 million to teach you new languages as you browse the web — The startup has developed a Chrome browser extension designed for anyone who wants to learn a new language but hasn’t found the motivation or the time.
Daily Crunch: Apple revises App Store rules|Anthony Ha|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch
Looking ahead, Toucan is planning to add new languages and to launch browser extensions for Firefox and Safari.
Toucan raises $3M to teach you new languages as you browse the web|Anthony Ha|September 11, 2020|TechCrunch

This announcement covers changes to Google Search, Google News, autocomplete, fact checking, through BERT and language processing.
Google now uses BERT to match stories with fact checks|Barry Schwartz|September 10, 2020|Search Engine Land
Despite the strong language, however, the neither the JPO nor Lockheed could dispute a single fact in either Daily Beast report.
Pentagon Misfires in Stealth Jet Scandal|Dave Majumdar|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Some of them already are in Germany taking language lessons.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His first language was Russian, then he learned Swedish, but chooses to perform in monosyllabic broken English.
The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’|Marlow Stern|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
We also have a language filled with distaste for the civilian “others.”
A Veteran’s View: NYC Cold War Between Cops and City Hall|Matt Gallagher|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Disagreements will focus on right and wrong, not parsing of legal language.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“Perhaps you do not speak my language,” she said in Urdu, the tongue most frequently heard in Upper India.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
I would ask you to imagine it translated into every language, a common material of understanding throughout all the world.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
And all over the world each language would be taught with the same accent and quantities and idioms—a very desirable thing indeed.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
But don't go hunting after them, there are still modern Immortals in the darkness of a forgotten language.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells
Light, the symbol of life's joy, seems to be the first language in which the spirit of beauty speaks to a child.
Children's Ways|James Sully

British Dictionary definitions for language

language

/ (ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ) /

noun

a system for the expression of thoughts, feelings, etc, by the use of spoken sounds or conventional symbols

the faculty for the use of such systems, which is a distinguishing characteristic of man as compared with other animals

the language of a particular nation or peoplethe French language

any other systematic or nonsystematic means of communicating, such as gesture or animal soundsthe language of love

the specialized vocabulary used by a particular groupmedical language

a particular manner or style of verbal expressionyour language is disgusting

computing See programming language

speak the same language to communicate with understanding because of common background, values, etc

Word Origin for language

C13: from Old French langage, ultimately from Latin lingua tongue

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

Scientific definitions for language

language

[ lăng′gwĭj ]

A system of objects or symbols, such as sounds or character sequences, that can be combined in various ways following a set of rules, especially to communicate thoughts, feelings, or instructions. See also machine language programming language.

The set of patterns or structures produced by such a system.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.