league

[leeg]

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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.

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

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR league ON THESAURUS.COM

2. combination, coalition.

Synonym study

1. See alliance.

league

[leeg]

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

Related Words for league

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

Examples from the Web for league

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of league

As soon would I league myself with the Odomantians of Thrace!
Philothea
Lydia Maria Child
“I wish they may not be in league with them,” said Master Headley.
The Armourer's Prentices
Charlotte M. Yonge
There be seven of them in all, lying off the town of Hampton on the mainland, about a league.
The Works of Whittier, Volume V (of VII)
John Greenleaf Whittier
She was confessedly in league with a gang of adventurers upon a quest for treasure.
The Inn at the Red Oak
Latta Griswold
Had she decoyed him to the rendezvous in the dark but to betray him to the bandits with whom she was in league?
The Inn at the Red Oak
Latta Griswold

British Dictionary definitions for league

league

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

league

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

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).

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.