target language

American  

noun

1. the language into which a text is to be translated from another language.

2. a language, especially a foreign language, that one is in the process of learning.

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target language British  

noun

1. the language into which a text, document, etc, is translated

2. a language that is being or is to be learnt

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Etymology

Origin of target language

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

I definitely recommend that you start doing this in your target language once you’re at a point where you feel that you can understand it.

From The Verge • Jul. 19, 2022

Many language learners will tell you that conversing with native speakers is an essential part of learning your target language.

From The Verge • Feb. 15, 2022

But today, the preferred model is a less culturally imperialistic one: finding bilingual locals already fluent in the target language and working with them to produce a new Bible.

From Slate • May 11, 2018

Usually, half the day is taught in English and half in the target language, e.g.,

From New York Times • Dec. 26, 2014

MT analyzes the text in the source language and automatically generates the corresponding text in the target language.

From The Internet and Languages [around the year 2000] by Lebert, Marie