A league is a group of people, clubs, or countries that have joined together for a particular purpose, or because they share a common interest.
...the League of Nations. [+ of]
...the World Muslim League.
Synonyms: association, union, alliance, coalition More Synonyms of league
2. countable noun
A league is a group of teams that play the same sport or activity against each other.
...the American League series between the Boston Red Sox and World Champion OaklandAthletics.
The club are on the brink of promotion to the Premier League.
Synonyms: championship, competition, tournament, contest More Synonyms of league
3. countable noun
You use the word league to make comparisons between different people or things, especially in terms of their quality.
Her success has taken her out of my league.
Their record sales would put them in the same league as The Rolling Stones.
Synonyms: class, group, level, category More Synonyms of league
4.
See in league
More Synonyms of league
league in British English1
(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
5. (modifier)
of, involving, or belonging to a league
a league game
a league table
verbWord forms: leagues, leaguing or leagued
6.
to form or be formed into a league
Word origin
C15: from Old French ligue, from Italian liga, ultimately from Latin ligāre to bind
league in British English2
(liːɡ)
noun
an obsolete unit of distance of varying length. It is commonly equal to 3 miles
Word origin
C14 leuge, from Late Latin leuga, leuca, of Celtic origin
league in American English1
(lig)
noun
1.
a compact or covenant made by nations, groups, or individuals for promoting common interests, assuring mutual protection, etc.
2.
an association or alliance of individuals, groups, or nations formed by such a covenant
3. Sport
a group of teams organized to compete against one another
4. US, Informal
a division according to grade or quality; class
verb transitive, verb intransitiveWord forms: leagued or ˈleaguing
5.
to form into a league
SIMILAR WORDS: alˈliance
Idioms:
in league
Word origin
ME ligg < OFr ligue < It liga < legare, to bind < L ligare: see ligature
league in American English2
(lig)
noun
1.
a unit of linear measure varying in different times and countries: in English-speaking countries it is usually about 3 statute miles or 3 nautical miles
2. US
an old land measure in parts of the U.S. that were formerly Mexican, equal to about 4,400 acres
Word origin
ME lege < OFr legue < LL leuga, leuca, Gallic mile < Celt *leuca > OE leowe, mile
Examples of 'league' in a sentence
league
But this is in a whole different league.
The Sun (2016)
But the league form of both had dropped off.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Critics say it is a step nearer a closed super league for the biggest clubs.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Last season they took just two points from their three league games.
The Sun (2016)
But they maintained their composure to thwart the league leaders through sustained periods of pressure.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It puts pressure on the budgets of the lower league clubs.
The Sun (2016)
It is a rarity in rugby league that any encounter should have as its focus the two coaches.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Cricket, rugby union and rugby league do not have a ban.
The Sun (2016)
Players should remember they play in the world's top league.
The Sun (2017)
But he overcame those problems to secure promotion to the Premier league last term.
The Sun (2016)
My opponents were in a different league.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
There is an opportunity for rugby league to grab national attention over the coming four weeks.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Our league form is suffering from all these games we are playing.
The Sun (2007)
Why do rugby league people see union in a critical way?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Town were on course to make it four league wins in a row.
The Sun (2011)
They also can also set up club or league websites.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
They have managed only two points from five league outings.
The Sun (2008)
Discovering this kind of league interests me in terms of sensations and emotions.
The Sun (2014)
What caught my eye was the league table of charitable giving.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
He is set to enter an elite league of billionaire team owners.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Top of the league and still incredibly consistent.
The Sun (2014)
They came joint first in a league table of those viewers remembered best.
The Sun (2012)
Her position today is in a different league.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The rugby league convert has recovered from a fractured eye socket and cheekbone.
The Sun (2014)
He cannot resist sniping about converts from rugby league to union.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
He has yet to make a league appearance.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He felt he belonged in the big league but it brought out the best in him in many ways.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
You can have up to four free teams and either enter them in existing leagues or form your own.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Now we need to be united and fight in Premier league!
The Sun (2015)
Is one league big enough, for that matter?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Perhaps there was not much he could say to his players after his club 's record league defeat.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The Hatters had lost two of their previous three league games and were in danger of slipping out of contention.
The Sun (2014)
A depressing sign from the league leaders that they are prepared to do anything to try and stay there.
The Sun (2012)
A solid defender would not go amiss and another forward is required after only two goals in the opening three league games.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
League One leaders Brighton have failed to win any of their past four league games.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
In other languages
league
British English: league /liːɡ/ NOUN
A league is a group of people, clubs, or countries that have joined together for a particular purpose.
...the League of Nations.
American English: league
Arabic: عُصْبَة
Brazilian Portuguese: liga
Chinese: 联盟
Croatian: liga
Czech: liga
Danish: liga
Dutch: verbond
European Spanish: liga
Finnish: liitto yhdistymä
French: ligue
German: Bündnis
Greek: όμιλος
Italian: lega
Japanese: 連盟
Korean: 연맹
Norwegian: forbund
Polish: liga
European Portuguese: liga
Romanian: ligă
Russian: лига
Latin American Spanish: liga
Swedish: liga
Thai: สหพันธ์
Turkish: lig
Ukrainian: ліга
Vietnamese: liên đoàn
All related terms of 'league'
in league
If you say that someone is in league with another person to do something bad , you mean that they are working together to do that thing.
Arab League
the league of independent Arab states formed in 1945 to further cultural , economic , military, political, and social cooperation
big league
a major sports league
bush-league
(in baseball ) relating to one of the minor leagues
Ivy League
The Ivy League is a group of eight universities in the north-eastern part of the United States , which have high academic and social status .
league club
A club is a team which competes in sporting competitions .
league goal
In games such as football or hockey , a goal is when a player gets the ball into the goal, or the point that is scored by doing this.
non-league
amateur or semi-professional
Delian League
an alliance of ancient Greek states formed in 478–77 bc to fight Persia
house league
a sports league in which the members of all teams belong to the same organization, school, or company
Junior League
an educational and charitable women's organization that promotes voluntary work aimed at improving communities in Canada, the United States, Mexico , and the United Kingdom
league match
a match played between teams in a league (as opposed to an international game )
league table
A league table is a list that shows how successful an organization such as a sports team or a business is when it is compared to other similar organizations.
Little League
The Little League is an organization of children's baseball teams that compete against each other in the United States .
major league
The major leagues are groups of professional sports teams that compete against each other, especially in American baseball.
minor league
any professional league in baseball other than a major league
rugby league
a form of rugby football played between teams of 13 players
Urban League
→ the Urban League
Achaean League
a confederation of Achaean cities formed in the early third century bc , which became a political and military force in Greece , directed particularly against Macedonian domination of the Peloponnesus
football league
an association of football clubs that organizes matches between member teams of a similar standard
league campaign
A campaign is a planned set of activities that people carry out over a period of time in order to achieve something such as social or political change.
league football
rugby league football
league leaders
the team at the top of a league
league position
Your position in a race or competition is how well you did in relation to the other competitors or how well you are doing.
National League
the second oldest league of baseball in the United States
Premier League
a professional football or soccer league consisting of the top teams in England and Wales
Hanseatic League
a commercial association of towns in N Germany formed in the mid-14th century to protect and control trade. It was at its most powerful in the 15th century
league attendance
The attendance at an event is the number of people who are present at it.
league champions
the team that has come top of the league
the Ivy League
a group of eight universities (Brown, Columbia , Cornell, Dartmouth College, Harvard, Princeton , the University of Pennsylvania , and Yale ) that have similar academic and social prestige in the US to Oxford and Cambridge in Britain
league championship
the competition to become league champions
League of Nations
an international association of states founded in 1920 with the aim of preserving world peace : dissolved in 1946
seven-league boots
mythical boots that allowed the wearer to travel seven leagues (a former unit of measurement ), ie a great length, at each step
the Urban League
a civil rights organization based in New York City that advocates on behalf of African Americans and against racial discrimination in the United States
Anti-Corn Law League
an organization founded in 1839 by Richard Cobden and John Bright to oppose the Corn Laws , which were repealed in 1846
the Hanse
a medieval league of free towns in N Germany and adjoining countries, formed to promote and protect their economic interests: the leading members were Bremen , Lü beck , and Hamburg
Solemn League and Covenant
any of the bonds entered into by Scottish Presbyterians to defend their religion, esp one in 1638 ( National Covenant ) and one of 1643 ( Solemn League and Covenant )
covenant
A covenant is a formal written agreement between two or more people or groups of people which is recognized in law.
move into the major league/make it into the major league
If someone moves into the major league or makes it into the major league , they become very successful in their career .
Chinese translation of 'league'
league
(liːɡ)
n(c)
(= like-minded group) 联(聯)盟 (liánméng)
(Sport) 联(聯)赛(賽) (liánsài) (季, jì)
to be in league with sb与(與)某人勾结(結) (yǔ mǒurén gōujié)
to be in the same league as sb (comparing) 与(與)某人同类(類) (yǔ mǒurén tónglèi)
out of sb's league (fig) 与(與)某人不是一类(類)人 (yǔ mǒurén bù shì yī lèi rén)