Legion Meaning
/ˈliː.d͡ʒən/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjNumerous; vast; very great in number.
nounThe major unit or division of the Roman army, usually comprising 3000 to 6000 infantry soldiers and 100 to 200 cavalry troops.
Sentence Examples
My name is Legion; for we are many.
He enlisted in the Foreign Legion.
Tom doesn't know the difference between a phalanx and a legion.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The Roman general commanded a ____ of over five thousand heavily armed soldiers.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A ____ of dedicated fans waited outside the stadium for many hours, hoping to see their favorite band tonight.
Word Origin & History
Attested (in Middle English, as legioun) around 1200, from Old French legion, from Latin legiō, legionem, from legō (“to gather, collect”); akin to legend, lecture. Doublet of León, which was borrowed from Spanish. Generalized sense of “a large number” is due to an allusive phrase in Mark 5:9, "My name is Legion, for we are many".
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Shepard: Where are the rest of the Reapers? Are you the last of your kind?
We are legion. The time of our return is coming. Our numbers will darken the sky of every world. You cannot escape your doom."
— 2008, BioWare, Mass Effect (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →ISBN, →OCLC, PC, scene: Saren's private lab, Virmire:
"Efforts to unionize were routinely met with clubbings, shootings, jailings, blacklistings and executions, perpetrated not only by well-armed legions of company goons, but also by police officers, deputies, National Guardsmen and even regular soldiers."
— 2009 February 22, Kevin Baker, “Blood on the Street”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 18 Aug 2022:
"With all due respect to Aaron, every era seems to have had its legion of wrongdoers and shortcutters who used whatever science was available to get an edge."
— 2009 July 31, William C. Rhoden, “Baseball Players’ Silence Led to Loud Drip of Names”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 26 Nov 2022:
"where one Sin has entered, Legions will force their Way through the fame Breach."
— 1735, John Rogers (Canon of Wells.), “Sermon XV. Universal Obedience to the Laws of God, the indispensable Obligation of Christians”, in Nineteen Sermons on several occasions:
"Afternoon TV mainstays like Leila Benitez and Bobby Ledesma of Darigold Jamboree gradually gave way to teenage loveteams Vi and Bot and Guy and Pip who had legions of fans watching their shows and movies and listening to their records."
— 2002, Pia B. Gutierrez, The changing face of the Filipino, page 35:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The Roman general commanded a ____ of over five thousand heavily armed soldiers.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A ____ of dedicated fans waited outside the stadium for many hours, hoping to see their favorite band tonight.