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Synonyms

bush league

1 American  

noun

Baseball.

  1. minor league.

bush-league 2 American  
[boosh-leeg] / ˈbʊʃˌlig /

adjective

  1. inferior or amateurish; mediocre.

    a bush-league theatrical performance.

Etymology

Origin of bush league1

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

Origin of bush-league2

An Americanism dating back to 1905–10

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.

But in a bush league snub, he chooses to be Commissioner Rob, not Commissioner Bob.

From The Wall Street Journal • Sep. 17, 2025

However, the rotating “personalities” in the TV broadcast booth is bush league.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2022

While creative, his move drew the ire of plenty of current and former college and pro players who viewed the "gotcha" moment as bush league.

From Fox News • Dec. 10, 2021

On Saturday, Jim Harbaugh called MSU "bush league" after further sod damage was done.

From Washington Post • Oct. 20, 2018

And who's this gumshoe guy from the bush league tailin' us?

From The Big-Town Round-Up by Raine, William MacLeod

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.