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legionnaire

American  
[lee-juh-nair] / ˌli dʒəˈnɛər /

noun

  1. (often initial capital letter) a member of the American Legion.

  2. a member of any legion; legionary.


legionnaire British  
/ ˌliːdʒəˈnɛə /

noun

  1. (often capital) a member of certain military forces or associations, such as the French Foreign Legion or the British Legion

"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

Etymology

Origin of legionnaire

From French, dating back to 1810–20; see origin at legionary

Vocabulary lists containing legionnaire

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:

It was a heady trophy for a 13-year-old, presented to me at graduation by a rumpled legionnaire in a garrison cap decorated with military pins.

From The Wall Street Journal Feb. 4, 2026

“Lady Killer” stars the leonine Jean Gabin as Lucien, a womanizing legionnaire.

From New York Times Aug. 3, 2023

The former French legionnaire, 41, becomes Africa's second-youngest leader, after Mali's Assimi Goïta, 38, who also staged a military takeover.

From BBC Oct. 1, 2021

Coup leader Mamady Doumbouya, a former French legionnaire, has pledged to install a unified, transitional government but has not said when or how that will happen.

From Reuters Sep. 8, 2021

In front of them, the legionnaire ghost vaporized.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

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