legging

noun

leg·​ging ˈle-gən 

 also  ˈlā-,

-giŋ

variants or less commonly leggin

ˈle-gən 

 also  ˈlā-

plural leggings also leggins

1

a

: pants that are made of a material that stretches to fit tightly around the legs

—usually used in plural

Lycra-cotton leggings and tunic tops are the pregnant woman's best friend, sartorially speaking.

—Anne Reeks

b

: tights

—usually used in plural

Something about the name "footed leggings" just makes these sound way warmer than your basic tights.

—Melanie Richtman

2

a

: a covering (as of leather or cloth) for the legs worn over pants for protection

—usually used in plural

Welding leggings protect the lower leg (from the knee down) from sparks and spatter. Leather is naturally abrasion and flame resistant for use in applications with heavy sparks and spatter.

—Grainger.com

b

: a pair of separate coverings (as of leather or cloth) for the legs

—usually used in plural

… "leggings [worn by Plains Indians men] reached from the ankle to the thigh and were held in place by tying thongs, attached to their tops, to the belt. …"

—Norman Feder, quoted in Dress Clothing of the Plains Indians

Examples of legging in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The leggings can be worn by themselves or as a base layer under another pair of pants for skiing or other outdoor winter activities. —Gabriella Maestri, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024

What’s the difference between thermal leggings and fleece leggings? —Jessica Kasparian, SELF, 4 Dec. 2024

Pair it casually with leggings, or elevate this with an on-sale Spanx mini skirt and some knee-high boots. —Neha Tandon, People.com, 3 Dec. 2024

The leggings feature a buttery soft fabric and come in sizes 0 to 20. —Chaunie Brusie, Rn, Parents, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Kids Definition

legging

noun

leg·​ging

variants or leggin

ˈleg-ən 

ˈleg-iŋ

: a covering for the leg