foreign legion

noun

1. a military unit consisting of foreign volunteers in the service of a state.
2. (initial capital letters) a specialized military unit of the French army, consisting of volunteers of all nationalities assigned to military operations and duties outside France.

foreign legion

noun

1. a body of foreign volunteers serving in an army, esp that of France

Word History and Origins

Origin of foreign legion¹

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

“The Ukrainians just couldn’t keep up,” said one foreign legion soldier.

From New York Times

He said the unit was part of Ukraine's foreign legion which is controlled by the Ukrainian military, but that the chain of command no longer applied to Russian volunteer fighters after they enter Russian territory.

From Reuters

The team is part of Ukraine’s foreign legion, a unit created at the start of the war that has supplied thousands of international volunteers to bolster Ukraine’s ranks.

From New York Times

Taiwan has mandatory military service, which makes those who complete it eligible to join Ukraine's foreign legion.

From BBC

Also among the newly freed prisoners were two Americans who were members of Ukraine’s foreign legion, a group of foreign fighters who have taken part in some of the bloodiest battles in the war.

From New York Times