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:
The Mets wanted Peralta for what they considered an inevitable playoff run, with the largest Opening Day payroll of any major league team, the Dodgers included.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 25, 2026
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
“I think he was driven to prove that hey, not only am I a player, I’m a major league player.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 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
All over the walls were framed, autographed photographs of major league stars, and also some political and show business celebrities who would come there to eat, bringing friends.
From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey
Though he’d carried high workloads in the minors before, being a major-league starting catcher comes with added responsibility.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 21, 2026
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
His first major-league hit was a three-run home run, and he entered Tuesday with a .974 OPS in 10 games.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026
Her groundstrokes come in like major-league sliders and every shot seems to end up kissing a line.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 12, 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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