minor league

¹

[mahy-ner leeg]

noun

Sports.

1. any association of professional teams other than the major leagues, as in baseball, especially when the member teams are associated with or controlled by major-league teams, which use them as training and proving teams for promising players.

minor-league

²

[mahy-ner-leeg]

adjective

1. Sports.,  of or relating to the minor leagues, especially in baseball.

2. Informal.,  of little import or consequence.

   a painter with minor-league talent.

   Synonyms: second-rate, lesser, insignificant

minor league

noun

1. any professional league in baseball other than a major league Compare major league

2. (modifier) of relatively little importance

   that firm is very minor league

Other Word Forms

• minor leaguer noun
• minor-leaguer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of minor league¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Origin of minor league²

An Americanism dating back to 1930–35; adjective use of minor league ( def. )

Example Sentences

He has not missed a cut on the toughest circuit in world golf since March, yet trails in the rankings behind someone who has been playing in the minor leagues.

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“Running the minor league pitching sounds more intriguing to me than being a bullpen coach in the big leagues,” he said.

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In past Olympic baseball tournaments, MLB has declined to stop its season, so minor league and college players have populated the rosters of many countries, including the United States.

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The Angels’ minor league system is widely regarded as one of baseball’s thinnest.

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The NBA was not much more than a minor league 45 years ago.

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