noun

legion

LEE-juhn

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."

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."

adj

Very great in number; numerous.

"The complaints about the new policy were legion."

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.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

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

Word Forms

legioned past tense, legions plural, legions singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

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."

Rhymes for legion

ion lion Zion Dion Sion union scion Orion Onion action minion bunion

See all rhymes for legion →