league

[ leeg ]

/ lig /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR league ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a covenant or compact made between persons, parties, states, etc., for the promotion or maintenance of common interests or for mutual assistance or service.

the aggregation of persons, parties, states, etc., associated in such a covenant or compact; confederacy.

an association of individuals having a common goal.

a group of athletic teams organized to promote mutual interests and to compete chiefly among themselves: a bowling league.

Sports.

group; class; category: As a pianist he just simply isn't in your league.

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

to unite in a league; combine.

Nearby words

Idioms

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

Origin of league

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

SYNONYMS FOR league

2. combination, coalition.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR league ON THESAURUS.COM

Synonym study

1. See alliance.

league

[ 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

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

But as an American creating a new brand here, and living the daily life of the souk, he seems to be in a league of his own.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I spoke to the League of Women Voters, a pretty liberal group... I still went and spoke to them.
No. 3 Republican Admits Talking to White Supremacist Conference|Tim Mak|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And as far as security at the screenings goes, League says his theaters have taken the necessary precautions.
The Inside Story of How Sony’s ‘The Interview’ Finally Made It to Theaters|Marlow Stern|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The Daily Beast spoke to a jubilant League on Tuesday about the behind-the-scenes battle to get The Interview to movie theaters.
The Inside Story of How Sony’s ‘The Interview’ Finally Made It to Theaters|Marlow Stern|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

According to League, Alamo Drafthouse was actively working with Sony on Monday on the possibility of screening The Interview.
The Inside Story of How Sony’s ‘The Interview’ Finally Made It to Theaters|Marlow Stern|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They were located within a radius of one league of each other and must correspond to the three seen by Moraga.
The Aboriginal Population of the San Joaquin Valley, California|Sherburne F. Cook
Within a mile ahead of us; but to enter the Hook, the bar must be crossed a league or two off.
Homeward Bound|James Fenimore Cooper
A thousand persons met the delegates in that town; formed their own council, and embraced the league with enthusiasm.
The History of Tasmania, Volume I (of 2)|John West
How comes it, Kala, that thou livest all alone half a league from the village?
The Call Of The South|Louis Becke
The League, furious at this stroke of policy, tried to impose a council of thirty-six advisers upon the king.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 7|Various

British Dictionary definitions for league

league

/ (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

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

Word Origin and History for league

league

n.1

"alliance," mid-15c., ligg, from Middle French ligue "confederacy, league" (15c.), from Italian lega, from legare "to tie, to bind," from Latin ligare "to bind" (see ligament). Originally among nations, subsequently extended to political associations (1846) and sports associations (1879). League of Nations first attested 1917 (created 1919).

league

n.2

distance of about three miles, late 14c., ultimately from Late Latin leuga (cf. French lieue, Spanish legua, Italian lega), said by Roman writers to be from Gaulish. A vague measure (perhaps originally an hour's hike) never in official use in England, where it is recorded more often in poetic than in practical writing.

"to form a league," 1610s, from league (n.1). Related: Leagued; leaguing.

Idioms and Phrases with league

league

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

league

noun

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

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Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of league

Synonym study

league

noun

Origin of league

Examples from the Web for league

league

noun

verb leagues, leaguing or leagued

Word Origin for league

noun

Word Origin for league

league

league

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