legion
Americannoun
-
legions
plural
-
a division of the Roman army, usually comprising 3000 to 6000 soldiers.
-
a military or semimilitary unit.
-
the Legion.
-
any large group of armed men.
-
any great number of persons or things; multitude.
adjective
noun
-
a military unit of the ancient Roman army made up of infantry with supporting cavalry, numbering some three to six thousand men
-
any large military force
the French Foreign Legion
-
(usually capital) an association of ex-servicemen
the British Legion
-
(often plural) any very large number, esp of people
adjective
Usage
What is a legion? A legion is a large group of people or things, most commonly soldiers, as in World-famous author Stephen King has a legion of fans. Legion can also describe a very large number, as in The number of soccer fans around the world is legion. During the Roman Empire, legion referred to a division of the army that numbered between 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. As a result, we use legion to refer to a large number of soldiers. However, legion is now used more generally to mean any big group of people or things. Example: The city was filled with legions of fans after the rock star announced they would perform a concert there.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of legion
1175–1225; Middle English legi ( o ) un (< Old French ) < Latin legiōn- (stem of legiō ) picked body of soldiers, equivalent to leg ( ere ) to gather, choose, read + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A legion is a horde or a large number of people or things. It was originally a term for a military unit. In Roman times, a legion was a large unit of men in the army, and the word is still used in many militaries. However, it also means a whole bunch of people doing anything. If someone has many fans, you can say legion of fans or legions of fans, but either way, that's a lot of fans. There are legions of stars in the sky. When you see legion, you can be sure there's an awful lot of something.
Vocabulary lists containing legion
Ancient Rome - Introductory
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Ancient Rome - Middle School and High School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Inherit the Wind
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
Swifties - the singer's legion of fans - of all ages lined every block in the vicinity of the arena.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
But for one celebrity in China, even a legion of devoted fans was not enough to stave off the wrath of the internet.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
It joins the legion of startups with a name referencing The Lord of the Rings—in Elvish, Mirendil roughly means “friend of precious things.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 24, 2026
Earlier this year Hockney became one of the few non-French citizens to be awarded France's highest civilian honour, the legion d'honneur.
From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026
Mother, Father, and I all wear kilts, and “Happy Birthday” is played by a legion of bagpipers.
From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson
Seeing no evil are legions of crooked operators — customs inspectors, tax agents, military commanders, among other enablers.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
Christopher Nolan's adaptation of "The Odyssey" has not only lured legions of fans to cinemas, but sparked huge interest in the UK in Homer's epic poem and other Greek and Roman mythology works.
From Barron's ● Jul. 30, 2026
There are also the legions of sponsors and guests, who follow the race from bleachers at the summit and nibble on petits fours while the competition rages in the background.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026
His legions of fans will feel he was hard done by and it was remarkable to witness the warm reception he received on Saturday after he had been docked those two shots.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
Biting winds blew in from the southwest, kicking up legions of whitecaps on Lake Washington.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
