major league
noun
either of the two top-tier baseball leagues (the American League and theNational League ) that are organized under and regulated by MLB.
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major league
1 American
[may-jer leeg]
/ ˈmeɪ dʒər ˈlig /
noun
-
major leagues
plural
-
Baseball. either of the two top-tier baseball leagues (the American League and theNational League ) that are organized under and regulated by MLB.
-
Sports. a league of corresponding stature in certain other sports, such as ice hockey, soccer, football, or basketball.
major-league
2
American
[may-jer-leeg]
/ ˈmeɪ dʒərˈlig /
adjective
-
Sports. of or relating to the major leagues, especially in baseball.
-
Informal. belonging to or among the best or most important of its kind.
a major-league orchestra.
major league
British
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of major league1
An Americanism dating back to 1880–85
Origin of major-league2
An Americanism dating back to 1905–10; adjective use of major league ( def. )
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:
For older players, Tommy John surgery—a ligament repair and reconstruction named for the major league pitcher it was first performed on and widespread among pros—is on the rise.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
He can also call up pronunciation guides for players on all 30 major league teams, though he’s found the radio broadcasters for the visiting clubs are often more helpful.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2026
They just tied the major league record for consecutive postseason appearances with 14.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
“He’s gonna swing at strikes, take balls, put together good at-bats,” Roberts said before De Paula made his major league debut Friday in the Dodgers’ 6-2 win over the Miami Marlins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
Lawes also invited major league baseball teams into prison to play against the Mutual Welfare League team, the Black Sheep.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
He tied for the major-league lead with 41 saves in 2026 and hasn’t blown one since May 13, a stretch of 35 consecutive conversions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
The 25-year-old Simpson is about to finish his first full major-league season, and it has gone as well as anybody could have imagined.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026
Over the past week and a half, the major-league coaching staff, which also had De Paula in major-league spring training camp the last two years, has taken over.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2026
He logged his second major-league hit in the next at-bat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026
There were major-league stakes: intellectual and scientific, financial, and, less often discussed, military.
From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel
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