1. Primary Definitions
The English word “league” has several distinct meanings depending on context:
- Sports Context: An organized group of sports teams that compete regularly (e.g., Premier League, National Football League).
- Historical Unit of Distance: An old unit of length, roughly equal to 3 miles or about 4.8 kilometers.
- Alliance or Association: A group of people, countries, or organizations united for a common purpose (e.g., the League of Nations).
- Figurative Use: Used in phrases like “out of your league” to imply someone is too good or unattainable.
2. Common Examples in Sentences
“Manchester United plays in the English Premier League.”
“In medieval times, travelers measured journeys in leagues.”
“She’s so talented—she’s in a different league altogether.”
“The two companies formed a league to develop green technology.”
3. Etymology & Origin
The word “league” comes from the Latin ligāre, meaning “to bind,” which also gives us words like “ally” and “obligation.” It entered English via Old French (ligue) in the 15th century.
4. Fun Facts
- Jules Verne’s famous novel is titled Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea—referring to distance traveled, not depth!
- In modern slang, “in the same league” means being of comparable quality or status.
- The phrase “wild card” originated in U.S. sports leagues and is now used widely in business and everyday language.