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
- major leaguer noun
- major-leaguer noun
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.
And, if the Dodgers can match up with Team USA, they can take on the best lineup the other 29 major league teams have to offer.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026
Five years in the minor leagues after having attended college meant Lopes was 27 when he made his major league debut that September.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026
The Dodgers could bar every other major league team from moving into L.A., but not the Angels.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026
Suzuki spent 16 seasons as a major league catcher, retiring in 2022.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026
The cutoff date for almost all nonschool baseball leagues in the United States is July 31, with the result that more major league players are born in August than in any other month.
From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell
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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.