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

The man said he was a member of the Ukrainian Army's foreign legion and travelled to Ukraine by bus via Poland.

From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025

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

He proposes that Ukrainians should make an earlier disclosure to those who seek to enlist in the foreign legion.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 22, 2022

The "foreign legion," composed of 8,000 men, was to remain in Mexico six years after all the other French troops should have been recalled.

From The United States and Latin America by Latane, John Holladay