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

Davis was then a minor league hitting instructor for four teams and two organizations, tried online sales, currency trading and even sold insurance — first life insurance, then burial insurance.

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He played part of the 2017 season in the Baltimore Orioles minor league system, then spent several more years playing baseball in Mexico and Venezuela before retiring in 2021.

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It was Leo Rivas, an infielder who spent nine years toiling away in the minor leagues before getting a chance with the Mariners in 2024.

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He was relegated to backup duties, then ultimately the minor leagues.

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In July, however, they demoted their No. 5 starter to the minors without a minor league starter ready to fill in.

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