language arts

American

[lang-gwij ahrts] / ˈlæŋ gwɪdʒ ˈɑrts /

noun

(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.
(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.

Jonah hadn’t been able to concentrate on homework—not enough to do it, and certainly not enough to put it all in a tidy stack—so he had a half-finished math sheet sliding into the paper giving instructions for his next language arts paragraph sliding into a sheet announcing the school’s Halloween dance.

From Literature

If there were a skunk time at school, like math time and language arts time and yoga time, then maybe Bat could bring Thor with him.

From Literature

“Did you talk to your language arts teacher?”

From Literature

“Language arts with Chang next,” Ana informs me.

From Literature

“Celia, could I borrow your phone? I need to text Tadeo. I forgot to write down our language arts homework and it isn’t online.”

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023