league

¹

[ leeg ]

noun

1. a covenant or compact made between persons, parties, states, etc., for the promotion or maintenance of common interests or for mutual assistance or service.
2. the aggregation of persons, parties, states, etc., associated in such a covenant or compact; confederacy.

   Synonyms: coalition, combination

3. an association of individuals having a common goal.
4. Sports. a group of athletic teams organized to promote mutual interests and to compete chiefly among themselves: a tri-county community softball league.

   a bowling league for ages 12–18;

   a tri-county community softball league.

5. Sports.
   1. a major league:

      He played in both leagues, with four different teams, but he’ll always be remembered most as a Cincinnati Red.

   2. a minor league:

      During her tenure as general manager of the league in Florida, eight of her players were promoted to the majors.

6. group; class; category:

   As a pianist he just simply isn't in your league.

verb (used with or without object)

, leagued, lea·guing.

1. to unite in a league; combine. People are judged, fairly or not, by the company that they keep, and the people they league themselves with.

   Some unlikely political bedfellows leagued together to get the bill passed.

   People are judged, fairly or not, by the company that they keep, and the people they league themselves with.

league

²

[ leeg ]

noun

1. a unit of distance, varying at different periods and in different countries: in English-speaking countries usually estimated roughly at 3 miles (4.8 kilometers).
2. a square league, as a unit of land measure, estimated roughly at 4,428 acres (1,791.9 hectares).

league

¹

/ liːɡ /

noun

1. an association or union of persons, nations, etc, formed to promote the interests of its members
2. an association of sporting clubs that organizes matches between member teams of a similar standard
3. a class, category, or level

   he is not in the same league

4. in league
   in league working or planning together (with)
5. modifier of, involving, or belonging to a league

   a league game

   a league table

verb

1. to form or be formed into a league

league

²

/ liːɡ /

noun

1. an obsolete unit of distance of varying length. It is commonly equal to 3 miles

Word History and Origins

Origin of league¹

First recorded in 1425–75; from French ligue, from Italian liga, lega, from legare, from Latin ligāre “to tie, bind”

Origin of league²

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English lege, leghe, leuge, from Old French legue, from Late Latin leuga, leuca, a Gaulish unit of distance equal to 1.5 Roman miles, apparently from Gaulish; (compare Breton leó, leu, lev “league”)

Word History and Origins

Origin of league¹

C15: from Old French ligue, from Italian liga, ultimately from Latin ligāre to bind

Origin of league²

C14 leuge, from Late Latin leuga, leuca, of Celtic origin

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in league, working together, often secretly or for a harmful purpose; united:

   By putting yourself in league with corrupt and ruthless leaders, you will end up paying in the long run.

More idioms and phrases containing league

see big league ; in league with ; in the same league .

Synonym Study

See alliance.

Example Sentences

Maya Moore, one of the most decorated champions in the history of the WNBA, went as far as to leave the league last year to successfully help overturn a prisoner’s conviction.

From Quartz

He said this time is different because it’s the whole league, rather than one team, weighing the decision.

From Fortune

The Milwaukee Bucks, of all the teams in all the leagues, might seem like an odd place to find the spark for such a historic strike, but they’re not — particularly for a protest about racial justice.

From FiveThirtyEight

She leads the league in assist percentage for the second year in a row, while shooting 50-40-90 going into Tuesday night’s games.

From FiveThirtyEight

With each such situation, the league has been working out the kinks of its new system.

From Science News For Students

But as an American creating a new brand here, and living the daily life of the souk, he seems to be in a league of his own.

From The Daily Beast

Meanwhile, the Anti-Defamation League issued a statement deploring the state GOP for its failure to censure Duke.

From The Daily Beast

This initiative had the support of all 22 members of the Arab League, which in and of itself is remarkable.

From The Daily Beast

I spoke to the League of Women Voters, a pretty liberal group... I still went and spoke to them.

From The Daily Beast

And as far as security at the screenings goes, League says his theaters have taken the necessary precautions.

From The Daily Beast

We were still one league and a half from the island when the twilight ended and night came on.

From Project Gutenberg

The solemn league and covenant burned by the common hangman at London, and afterwards throughout the country.

From Project Gutenberg

Another such case is found in the account of the league between Joshua and the princes of the congregation, and the Gibeonites.

From Project Gutenberg

Looked at in its proper light, the Corn-law League is nothing but an abominable conspiracy against labour.

From Project Gutenberg

The League Oracle admits that "a repeal would injure the farmer, but not so much as he fears."

From Project Gutenberg