noun C2 Proficient Uncommon

legion

LEE-juhn

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Legion (noun) means a large division of the ancient Roman army, typically a few thousand infantry plus cavalry support. Example: “The Roman legion advanced in tight, disciplined formation.”

noun

A large division of the ancient Roman army, typically a few thousand infantry plus cavalry support.

"The Roman legion advanced in tight, disciplined formation."

"Historians estimate a full legion could number over 5,000 soldiers."

"The museum has a model showing how each legion camped for the night."

A large group, especially of soldiers or people, seen as too many to easily count.

"Fans turned up in their legions to see the band play."

"A legion of volunteers helped clear the flood debris."

"A legion of tourists blocked the narrow street outside the cathedral."

adj

Very great in number; numerous.

"The complaints about the new policy were legion."

"Her admirers are legion, and they write to her every week."

"The reasons for the delay were legion, so the manager gave up listing them."

How to use legion

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA legion is either a big division of an army, or, more loosely, any huge crowd or number of something.

Memory tip

When legion is used as an adjective ("his fans are legion"), it means "very numerous" — it always goes after the noun, not before it.

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Common pairings

a legion of fans a legion of followers the Roman legion the Foreign Legion

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

Plural: legions
Third person singular: legions
Past tense: legioned

Test yourself on “legion” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The Roman _____ advanced in tight, disciplined formation.

Etymology

From Old French legion, from Latin legio, "a gathering" or "a levied army" — related to legere, "to gather" (the same root gives us legend and lecture). The everyday sense of "a huge number" comes from the Bible, where a man possessed by many spirits says "my name is Legion, for we are many."

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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multitude host throng horde numerous

Antonyms

few

Related words

one people much many group few lot poor

Rhymes for legion

region ablation allusion emulsion ideation novation diffusion elocution extension oxidation perfusion selection

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Frequently asked questions

What does “legion” mean?

The word “legion” means a large division of the ancient Roman army, typically a few thousand infantry plus cavalry support. In plain terms, a legion is either a big division of an army, or, more loosely, any huge crowd or number of something.

How do you pronounce “legion”?

“Legion” is pronounced LEE-juhn (/ˈli.d͡ʒən/ in IPA).

How do you use “legion” in a sentence?

Here is “legion” used in a sentence: “The Roman legion advanced in tight, disciplined formation.”

What part of speech is “legion”?

Depending on how it is used, “legion” can be a noun and an adjective.

Where does the word “legion” come from?

The word “legion” comes from Latin.

Is “legion” a common word?

“Legion” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C2 level.

How many meanings does “legion” have?

“Legion” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large division of the ancient Roman army, typically a few thousand infantry plus cavalry support.

What is the difference between a legion and an army?

A legion was a specific large division within the ancient Roman army, typically made up of a few thousand infantry along with cavalry support, whereas an army is the broader, general term for the entire organised military force. So a Roman army could be made up of multiple legions.

What does it mean when problems or fans are described as legion?

Used as an adjective, legion means very great in number or numerous, so saying complaints are legion means there are too many to easily count. This usage extends the original military sense of a large group into a general description of overwhelming quantity.

Is legion used as a plural or singular noun?

Legion can be used as a singular noun referring to one large group or Roman military division, but it is also used informally as a collective way to describe a large group of people or things seen as too many to count.

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