legion
Americannoun
-
a division of the Roman army, usually comprising 3000 to 6000 soldiers.
-
a military or semimilitary unit.
-
the Legion.
-
any large group of armed men.
-
any great number of persons or things; multitude.
adjective
noun
-
a military unit of the ancient Roman army made up of infantry with supporting cavalry, numbering some three to six thousand men
-
any large military force
the French Foreign Legion
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(usually capital) an association of ex-servicemen
the British Legion
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(often plural) any very large number, esp of people
adjective
Usage
What is a legion? A legion is a large group of people or things, most commonly soldiers, as in World-famous author Stephen King has a legion of fans. Legion can also describe a very large number, as in The number of soccer fans around the world is legion. During the Roman Empire, legion referred to a division of the army that numbered between 3,000 to 6,000 soldiers. As a result, we use legion to refer to a large number of soldiers. However, legion is now used more generally to mean any big group of people or things. Example: The city was filled with legions of fans after the rock star announced they would perform a concert there.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of legion
1175–1225; Middle English legi ( o ) un (< Old French ) < Latin legiōn- (stem of legiō ) picked body of soldiers, equivalent to leg ( ere ) to gather, choose, read + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
A legion is a horde or a large number of people or things. It was originally a term for a military unit. In Roman times, a legion was a large unit of men in the army, and the word is still used in many militaries. However, it also means a whole bunch of people doing anything. If someone has many fans, you can say legion of fans or legions of fans, but either way, that's a lot of fans. There are legions of stars in the sky. When you see legion, you can be sure there's an awful lot of something.
Vocabulary lists containing legion
Ancient Rome - Introductory
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Ancient Rome - Middle School and High School
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Inherit the Wind
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
But for one celebrity in China, even a legion of devoted fans was not enough to stave off the wrath of the internet.
From BBC ● Jul. 3, 2026
But a legion of opponents are determined to squash the celebration.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 11, 2026
It isn’t much of an answer, but the approaches endorsed by Mr. Harrelson and the legion of academicians and scientists who weigh in here are appealing in a commonsensical fashion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 2, 2026
Those problems are legion, and whoever wins in November will have a towering inbox.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
The legion of fairies glided toward them, scooped them up, and carried them on a breakneck flight for home.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
His legions of fans will feel he was hard done by and it was remarkable to witness the warm reception he received on Saturday after he had been docked those two shots.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
For four-day periods every year from March to August, legions of small, silver fish called grunion ride the waves ashore for mating rituals, beginning on the nights of the full and new moons.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
The World Cup has brought legions of European fans to our shores who, in the age of social media, are able to broadcast in real time their stunned encounters with American abundance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026
But while SpaceX has impressive technology, its mooted valuation of more than $1.5 trillion has more to do with Elon Musk’s legions of fans than financial fundamentals.
From Barron's ● May 29, 2026
Two iron legions out of New Ghis, trained and armed in the same fashion as Unsullied, were encamped across the river to the north.
From "A Dance with Dragons" by George R. R. Martin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
