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
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
Melanie Richtman2
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
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
Norman Feder, quoted in Dress Clothing of the Plains IndiansExamples of legging in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Find our picks for what to wear to hot yoga beyond the usual leggings and a sports bra, below.
—Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 6 June 2025
The leggings may have launched a few weeks ago, but reviews from Sweat Collective Members, who are gifted Lululemon products to test, are pouring in from those who have already snagged a pair.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 4 June 2025
From zip-front dresses to matching sets, sports bras, and leggings, the collection features a limited-edition white, sage, and terracotta colorway, chosen to complement Veronica Beard’s Pre-Fall 2025 line.
—Ruth Etiesit Samuel, Essence, 2 June 2025
This sadly does mean that all my favorite leggings and sports bras wear down more easily.
—Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legging
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Aemilia Madden, Glamour, 6 June 2025
The leggings may have launched a few weeks ago, but reviews from Sweat Collective Members, who are gifted Lululemon products to test, are pouring in from those who have already snagged a pair.
—Nicol Natale, People.com, 4 June 2025
From zip-front dresses to matching sets, sports bras, and leggings, the collection features a limited-edition white, sage, and terracotta colorway, chosen to complement Veronica Beard’s Pre-Fall 2025 line.
—Ruth Etiesit Samuel, Essence, 2 June 2025
This sadly does mean that all my favorite leggings and sports bras wear down more easily.
—Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for legging
Cite this Entry
“Legging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legging. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.
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