legion
C1Formal/Literary
Definition
Meaning
A large military force; a vast number of people or things.
An extremely large number; a multitude; an association of veterans (e.g., American Legion).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Historically refers to a principal unit of the Roman army. Its primary modern usage is figurative, to denote a large, indefinite number, often in the phrase 'their name is legion.'
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, 'Legion' often refers specifically to the British Legion/Royal British Legion (a veterans' charity). In the US, it commonly refers to the American Legion or Legion of Honor awards.
Connotations
Similar connotations of vastness and organized multitude. In US context, 'Legion' has strong patriotic and veteran associations.
Frequency
Comparable frequency, though specific institutional references differ.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
Legion of [noun: people/things]A legion of [plural noun][Possessive] legionVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Their name is legion (meaning: they are very numerous)”
- “Join the foreign legion (figuratively: to escape one's past)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used figuratively: 'A legion of customers complained about the change.'
Academic
Historical context: 'Caesar's legions crossed the Rubicon.'
Everyday
Figurative: 'I have a legion of emails to answer.'
Technical
Military history: 'The legion was composed of ten cohorts.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- His achievements were legion and well-documented.
- The problems facing the NHS are legion.
American English
- Her contributions to the community are legion.
- The reasons for the policy shift are legion.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The Roman soldier was in a legion.
- He has a legion of fans on social media.
- The film star was followed by a legion of photographers.
- The charity's supporters are legion and come from all walks of life.
- A legion of volunteers helped clean up after the flood.
- The critic's detractors are legion, but his influence on the field is undeniable.
- Though the challenges are legion, the team remains optimistic about finding a solution.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a large LEG of soldiers (LEGion) marching - a vast number.
Conceptual Metaphor
QUANTITY IS SIZE/A FORCE (a legion of problems, a legion of supporters).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'легионер' (legionnaire) which is a person, not the group.
- Avoid translating as 'легион' only in the historical Roman sense; the figurative sense is primary in modern English.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'legion' for a small, specific number (incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'legian' or 'leigon'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best captures the modern figurative meaning of 'legion'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, its primary modern use is figurative, meaning a very large number of people or things (e.g., 'a legion of fans').
Yes, the predicative adjective 'legion' means 'very numerous' (e.g., 'The errors in the report were legion'). It is not used attributively (*'a legion problem').
It refers to the French Foreign Legion, a military service for foreign nationals, often used figuratively to mean escaping to a completely new life.
It's a biblical reference (Mark 5:9) now used to mean that the people or things referred to are extremely numerous.