american league: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “american league” mean?
One of the two major professional baseball leagues in North America, consisting of 15 teams and known historically for using the designated hitter rule.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
One of the two major professional baseball leagues in North America, consisting of 15 teams and known historically for using the designated hitter rule.
A specific sports organization, often referred to in broader contexts of sports history, championship competitions (especially the American League Championship Series/ALCS), and in discussions comparing Major League Baseball's structure.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is primarily used in North American (especially US) contexts. In the UK, it is understood only in specific sports-following circles and is a cultural reference rather than common knowledge.
Connotations
In the US: Neutral/specific sports term. In the UK/other English-speaking regions: A marker of US sports culture, potentially unfamiliar.
Frequency
Very high frequency in US sports media; low to negligible frequency in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “american league” in a Sentence
[Team] plays in the American League.[Team] is an American League franchise.The championship of the American League.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “american league” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- He follows American League baseball.
- The American League standings are close.
American English
- She's an American League umpire.
- It was an American League-record crowd.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in contexts of sports management, franchise valuation, and media rights deals.
Academic
Used in sports history, sociology of sport, or comparative studies of sports leagues.
Everyday
Used in sports news, casual conversation among baseball fans, and fantasy sports.
Technical
Used in official MLB rules, statistics (AL ERA leader), and league governance documents.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “american league”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “american league”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “american league”
- Using lowercase ('american league').
- Using it as a countable noun ('There are two American Leagues').
- Confusing it with 'National League'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it includes the Toronto Blue Jays from Canada.
It means a team wins the American League Championship Series (ALCS) and becomes the American League champion, earning a place in the World Series.
The most famous difference was the use of the Designated Hitter (DH) rule in the AL, while the NL traditionally did not use it. This rule difference ended in 2022 with the universal adoption of the DH.
Yes, especially through trades or free agency. Players' statistics are often separated into 'AL' and 'NL' totals.
One of the two major professional baseball leagues in North America, consisting of 15 teams and known historically for using the designated hitter rule.
American league is usually formal/technical in register.
American league: in British English it is pronounced /əˈmɛrɪkən liːɡ/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈmɛrɪkən liːɡ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of AMERICA's national pastime (baseball) having two main LEAGUEs; the one with 'American' in its name is one of them.
Conceptual Metaphor
An organization is a container for teams. A competition is a journey (to win the pennant).
Practice
Quiz
What is a key on-field rule difference historically associated with the American League?