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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
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.
“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
He has made 133 major league starts and 130 minor league starts, but he never has pitched a complete game.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
Garret Anderson was a Hall of Fame-caliber major league baseball player who never made the Hall of Fame.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 19, 2026
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
During an eight-year career playing for seven major league teams, he became known as one of the greatest base stealers the game had yet seen.
From "1919 The Year That Changed America" by Martin W. Sandler
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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.