league

1 of 3

noun (1)

1
: any of various units of distance from about 2.4 to 4.6 statute miles (3.9 to 7.4 kilometers)
2
: a square league

league

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
a
: an association of nations or other political entities for a common purpose
the League of Nations
the League of Voters
b(1)
: an association of persons or groups united by common interests or goals
He organized a bowling league.
(2)
: a group of sports teams that regularly play one another
the National Football League
c
: an informal alliance
in league with her sister
2
: class, category
When I played chess with George, I knew I was out of my league.

league

3 of 3

verb

leagued; leaguing

transitive verb

: to unite in a league

intransitive verb

: to form a league

Examples of league in a Sentence

Noun (2) a league of concerned parishioners who are seeking a greater voice in church affairs created to avert future wars, the League of Nations was a forerunner of the United Nations that falls into a different league of fiction—the popular novel Verb the whole block leagued together to keep a liquor store from opening in their neighborhood some unlikely political bedfellows leagued together to get the bill passed
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
His 1,513 yards from scrimmage rank third in the league. Vic Tafur, The Athletic, 17 Dec. 2024 But as far as Las Vegas is concerned, the NBA is behind the other pro sports leagues. Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
Women’s Sports conference in October, three investors believe that capital needs to move in other arenas outside of the teams and leagues themselves. Jason Clinkscales, Sportico.com, 4 Nov. 2024 The leagued also honored Willie Mays, the baseball icon who died on Tuesday and used to call Rickwood Field home. Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 21 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for league 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English leuge, lege, from Late Latin leuga

Noun (2) and Verb

Middle English (Scots) ligg, from Middle French ligue, from Old Italian liga, from ligare to bind, from Latin — more at ligature

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1604, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of league was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near league

Cite this Entry

“League.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/league. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

league

1 of 2 noun
: any of various units of distance from about 2.4 to 4.6 statute miles (3.9 to 7.4 kilometers)

league

2 of 2 noun
1
: an association or alliance of nations
2
: an association of persons or groups united for common interests or goals
a softball league
league verb

More from Merriam-Webster on league

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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