Do you know the definition of ASL? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation ASL, including its definition, usage, examples, and more!
Your writing, at its best
Compose bold, clear, mistake-free, writing with Grammarly's AI-powered writing assistant
According to the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the acronym ASL most commonly stands for American Sign Language. This natural language is used by the American deaf community in the United States. ASL has its own grammar different from English grammar that may sound like a whole different language to hearing people than spoken language or written English. While it uses the same English words, English speakers who are not deaf may find the construction of sentences very different. This predominant sign language of deaf communities in the United States uses ASL signs to communicate. In modern ASL, these are formed by a hand shape and facial expression. ASL grammar has a different grammatical structure than English and is the primate language of many North Americans who are deaf or hard of hearing. ASL is usually written in uppercase, not lowercase. Try learning some new phrases in ASL today to communicate with people you know who are deaf! Around the world, there are also different sign languages like British Sign Language and French Sign Language. These languages are complex, but with practice you will be singing in no time.
According to Dictionary, ASL can also stand for age/sex/location. This is used in online chats and social media like Twitter, Instagram, by TikTok users and online dating sites as a slang term to ask a person’s age, gender, and city. You would most commonly see this used in chat rooms or on an app like WhatsApp, especially in the earlier days of the internet. These new phrases may throw you for a loop, but don’t fret!
According to The Free Dictionary, the acronym ASL has many other different meanings that just American Sign Language or Age Sex Location. While these other definitions are still valid, they are less common and should be used with caution. If you do decide to use one of these alternate definitions, make sure that you provide the reader or listener with the proper context so that they can infer the correct intended meaning.
Anton Szandor LaVey (High Priest of the Church of Satan)
Azimuth Steering Line (US Air Force; fighter plane guide)
Approved Supplier List
Account Spending Limit (Sprint)
Aquitaine Services Logistique (France)
Analytical Service Laboratory (International Rice Research Institute; Philippines)
Active Service List (computer networking)
Action Specification Language
Active Speech Level
Association Sports et Loisirs (French: Sports & Recreation Association)
Atomic Space Lab (cartoon)
Aiken-Augusta Swim League
Advanced Software Logic, Inc.
Astro Space Locator (software)
Active Status List
Adaptive Systems Laboratory (various universities)
Active Supplier List
Aircraft Services Lemwerder GmbH
Australian Society for Limnology
authorized stockage list (Army)
Affordable Sound and Light
Average Service Life (depreciation)
Arithmetic Shift Left
Anti-Secession Law (China)
Array Support Library
Appalachian School of Law
About Spanish Language
Association for Symbolic Logic
Alarm Systems Limited
Anarchist Soccer League
Aeronautical Systems Laboratory
Asia Supreme Life
Architecture Simulation Laboratory
Automated Securities Lending
Alternate Storage Location
Automatic Sound Leveliser
Applied Science Laboratories
Art Students League
Application Scripting Language
Acadian Seaplants Limited (Canada)
Animal Science Lab (various schools)
Advanced Science Letters (journal)
Advanced Solutions Limited
Atmospheric Surface Layer
Acquisition Summary Listing
Advanced Squad Leader (board game)
A Static Lullaby (band)
Autonomous Systems Lab
American Strength Legends
Association pour la Sauvegarde du Léman
Alliance Systems Ltd. (UK)
Antenna Software Ltd
Anderson Strickler, LLC
Assault
Automatic Speed Limiter
American Scientific Lighting
Association du Syndrome de Lowe
Assistant Squad Leader
Albuquerque Soccer League
Adapter Scripting Language (programming)
Appropriation Summary Ledger
Apollo Scientific Ltd. (UK)
Assigned Stockage List
Art and Science Laboratory
Application Services Library
Allowable Supply List
Avionics System LAN
Assistant Scout Leader
Assembler Source Language
Adobe Styles
Aviation Support and Logistics
Albuquerque Seismological Laboratory
Application-Specific Language
Art Slide Library (Brown University; Rhode Island)
Airway Surface Liquid (physiology)
Association des Sciences du Langage (French: Association of Language Sciences)
Astaro Security Linux
Azienda Sanitaria Locale
Anti-Saloon League (1893-1933; Ohio)
Approval Services Laboratory
Assigned Stockage Level
ACPI Source Language
Alpha Systems Laboratories
Atmospheric Sciences Laboratory
Adventure Seekers Ltd
Autobacs Sportscar Laboratory, Co, Ltd
Autonomous Script Language
Amorphous Silicon Laboratory
American School of London
Applied Superconductor Ltd. (UK)
Analyser Sales Ltd
Associations Syndicales Libres
Advanced Simulation Laboratory
Allery Scotts Ltd
Anna Sobol Levy (foundation; New York, NY)
Accounting Solutions Limited
Overall, the term ASL means either age/sex/location or American Sign Language. Age/sex/location is a term used in chat rooms to ask someone basic information about themselves. American Sign Language is a language used to communicate by or with a deaf person.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.
Kevin
July 20, 2021
Common Questions
