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major league
major leaguenouneither 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
major league
1 Americannoun
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Baseball. 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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Sports. a league of corresponding stature in certain other sports, such as ice hockey, soccer, football, or basketball.
adjective
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Sports. of or relating to the major leagues, especially in baseball.
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Informal. belonging to or among the best or most important of its kind.
a major-league orchestra.
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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.
“I would hope that we are the major league baseball of softball,” Ng, 57, said in a phone conversation.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 8, 2026
It can be a long season if the bitterness of the major league rejection of the winter lingers into the spring and summer, but Kelly does not see that in Turner.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
If you’re a Dodgers fan, you know the rest of his baseball story: In his major league debut, Stripling was five outs from a no-hitter when Dodgers manager Dave Roberts yanked him.
From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026
“In Blake’s case, just getting back into a major league game knowing your stuff is still good,” Roberts said.
From Los Angeles Times • May 10, 2026
His father was Willy “Winner” Prime, one of the best pitchers in major league baseball.
From "The Missing Mitt (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #2)" by Franklin W. Dixon
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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.