definitions

league

1
[ leeg ]
/ lig /
|||
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR league ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

verb (used with or without object), leagued, lea·guing.

to unite in a league; combine.

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RELATED WORDS

conference, group, society, club, company, union, organization, class, alliance, partnership, gang, ring, unit, bunch, compact, crew, sodality, combine, circle, confederacy

Nearby words

leafless, leaflet, leafleteer, leafstalk, leafy, league, league city, league football, league of arab states, league of nations, league of women voters

Idioms

    in league, working together, often secretly or for a harmful purpose; united.

Origin of league

1
1425–75; earlier leage < Italian lega, noun derivative of legare < Latin ligāre to bind; replacing late Middle English ligg < Middle French ligue < Italian liga, variant of lega

Synonym study

1. See alliance.

Definition for league (2 of 2)

league

2
[ leeg ]
/ lig /

noun

a unit of distance, varying at different periods and in different countries, in English-speaking countries usually estimated roughly at 3 miles (4.8 kilometers).
a square league, as a unit of land measure.

Origin of league

2
1350–1400; Middle English lege, leuge < Late Latin leuga a Gaulish unit of distance equal to 1.5 Roman miles, apparently < Gaulish; replacing Old English lēowe < Late Latin, as above
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for league

British Dictionary definitions for league (1 of 2)

league

1
/ (liːɡ) /

noun

an association or union of persons, nations, etc, formed to promote the interests of its members
an association of sporting clubs that organizes matches between member teams of a similar standard
a class, category, or levelhe is not in the same league
in league working or planning together (with)
(modifier) of, involving, or belonging to a leaguea league game; a league table

verb leagues, leaguing or leagued

to form or be formed into a league

Word Origin for league

C15: from Old French ligue, from Italian liga, ultimately from Latin ligāre to bind

British Dictionary definitions for league (2 of 2)

league

2
/ (liːɡ) /

noun

an obsolete unit of distance of varying length. It is commonly equal to 3 miles

Word Origin for league

C14 leuge, from Late Latin leuga, leuca, of Celtic origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with league

league

see big league; in league with; in the same league.

The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.