foreign legion

American  

noun

1. a military unit consisting of foreign volunteers in the service of a state.

2. (initial capital letters) a specialized military unit of the French army, consisting of volunteers of all nationalities assigned to military operations and duties outside France.

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foreign legion British  

noun

1. a body of foreign volunteers serving in an army, esp that of France

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Etymology

Origin of foreign legion

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

foreign legion

Hayden Davies was captured in Ukraine by Russian forces more than 18 months ago after joining the Ukrainian army's foreign legion as a volunteer.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

Also among the newly freed prisoners were two Americans who were members of Ukraine’s foreign legion, a group of foreign fighters who have taken part in some of the bloodiest battles in the war.

From New York Times ● Sep. 21, 2022

Ukraine has called on foreigners to join their resistance to Russia’s invasion, and some have answered that call, though not all have been accepted in Ukraine’s foreign legion.

From Washington Times ● Jun. 11, 2022

But for the Ukrainian government, battling the Russians on multiple fronts, the development of this foreign legion is still a work in progress.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 22, 2022

On the third morning after our entry into the Ricciotti's first foreign legion, both Hugh and I awoke stiff and chilled by the frost.

From A Tatter of Scarlet Adventurous Episodes of the Commune in the Midi 1871 by Crockett, S. R. (Samuel Rutherford)