legion
gb/lˈid͡ʒən/ us/lˈid͡ʒən/
B2
English
~ 8700
rengeteg, sereg, se szeri, se száma, számtalan, légió, veteránszervezet
NOUN
B2
1
Usage pattern:
a legion of [plural noun]
The singer has a legion of devoted fans around the world.
Az énekesnek lelkes rajongók serege van szerte a világon.
Legions of tourists pour into the city every summer.
Minden nyáron turisták tömegei özönlenek a városba.
There are legions of reasons to be cautious about this plan.
A legion of online commenters quickly attacked the decision.
Tech companies now employ legions of content moderators.
Learner examples
She has a legion of fans on the internet.
Rengeteg rajongója van az interneten.
Legions of people use this app every day.
Rengeteg ember használja ezt az alkalmazást nap mint nap.
There are a legion of problems with this idea.
The team faced legions of angry messages after the game.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'legion' to mean just 'group' or 'team' without the idea of very large number, e.g. *'a small legion of friends'*. In normal use, 'legion' almost always suggests that there are very many people or things. Also, learners may forget the common pattern 'a legion of [plural noun]' or 'legions of [plural noun]'.
Meaning
a very large number or group
Collocations
a legion of fans
|legions of supporters
|legions of problems
|legions of followers
|legions of tourists
|legions of examples
Synonyms
multitude (Very close in meaning, slightly more formal and less vivid than 'legion'.)
|
host (Often used like 'a host of', slightly more literary but similar idea of a large number.)
Antonyms
handful (Suggests a very small number, emphasizing the contrast with a very large number.)
Themes
numbers
|general
|society
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very large group or number of people or things.
A very large number of people or things, often thought of as one group.
C1
LITERARY
2
Usage pattern:
[something] is legion
The reasons to doubt this claim are legion.
Számtalan ok van arra, hogy kételkedjünk ebben az állításban.
Reports of corruption in the region are legion.
Se szeri, se száma a térségben tapasztalható korrupcióról szóló jelentéseknek.
Stories about his generosity are legion among his former coworkers.
In big cities, examples of inequality are legion.
Online, cases of misinformation are legion.
Learner examples
The problems with this plan are legion.
Rengeteg probléma van ezzel a tervvel.
In that city, traffic complaints are legion.
Abban a városban rengeteg a közlekedési panasz.
Examples of this kind of error are legion.
Stories about her kindness are legion.
Common mistake:
Learners may try to use 'legion' as a normal adjective before a noun (e.g. *'legion problems'*) instead of the common pattern '[noun] is legion' or '[plural noun] are legion'. It is grammatically possible before a noun but much less common; most modern usage is after 'be'.
Meaning
very many; numerous
Collocations
the problems are legion
|examples are legion
|instances are legion
|errors are legion
Synonyms
numerous (More common and neutral; 'legion' is slightly more dramatic or literary.)
|
countless (Suggests a very high number that is difficult to count, similar rhetorical force to 'legion'.)
Antonyms
few (Indicates a small number, the opposite of 'very many'.)
Themes
numbers
|general
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very many in number.
Existing in very great numbers; numerous.
NOUN
C1
3
légió
B2
Usage pattern:
a legion of [soldiers]
Each Roman legion consisted of several thousand heavily armed soldiers.
Minden római légió több ezer, nehézfegyverzetű katonából állt.
The general ordered the legion to cross the river at dawn.
A hadvezér megparancsolta a légiónak, hogy hajnalban keljen át a folyón.
Archaeologists found the remains of a Roman legion's camp near the site.
The empire stationed a legion along the border to prevent invasions.
He wrote a detailed history of the Tenth Legion and its campaigns.
Learner examples
The Roman army had many legions.
A római hadseregnek sok légiója volt.
A legion could have more than 4,000 soldiers.
Egy légió több mint 4000 katonából is állhatott.
The legion built a camp near the river.
The general led his legion into battle.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with the general sense of a very large number and say things like *'a legion of legions'*. In historical or military contexts, 'legion' refers to a formal unit of soldiers, not just any large crowd.
Meaning
large military unit of soldiers
Collocations
Roman legion
|command a legion
|legion of soldiers
|legion marched
|elite legion
Synonyms
division (A modern large military unit; not historically identical to a Roman legion but similar in being a big formation.)
|
unit (A general word for a group of soldiers, broader and less specific than 'legion'.)
Antonyms
individual soldier (Contrasts a single person in the army with a large organized group of soldiers.)
Themes
history
|military
|politics
Definition
A large group of soldiers, especially in the old Roman army.
A large military unit, especially one of the main units of the ancient Roman army, typically made up of several thousand soldiers.
NOUN
C1
4
Légió
B2
Usage pattern:
the [Country] Legion
Her grandfather is active in the local American Legion post.
A nagyapja aktív az Amerikai Légió helyi szervezetében.
The Royal British Legion raises funds to support veterans and their families.
A Brit Királyi Légió adományokat gyűjt a veteránok és családjaik támogatására.
The ceremony was organized by members of the Legion.
After leaving the army, he joined the Legion to stay connected with other veterans.
The Legion runs community events throughout the year.
Learner examples
He goes to meetings at the Legion every week.
Minden héten eljár a Légió gyűléseire.
The American Legion helps old soldiers.
Az Amerikai Légió segít az idős veteránoknak.
Her father is a member of the Legion in his town.
The Legion raises money for war veterans.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'legion' by itself always means a veterans' group. In this sense, it usually appears in proper names like 'the American Legion', often with capital letters. Without context or capitals, 'legion' is more likely to mean a very large number.
Meaning
veterans' association named Legion
Collocations
the American Legion
|the Royal British Legion
|local Legion post
|join the Legion
|Legion members
Synonyms
veterans' association (General term; 'Legion' is usually a specific organization with that word in its name.)
Antonyms
civilian club (A social club with no military or veterans' focus, the opposite kind of membership base.)
Themes
society
|organizations
|military
|relationships
|politics
Definition
An organization for people who were in the army, often called a "Legion".
A veterans' organization, especially one whose official name includes the word “Legion”, such as the American Legion or the Royal British Legion.
Grammar
Dictionary form
legion
IPA
GB/lˈid͡ʒən/
US/lˈid͡ʒən/
Syllables & stress
le - gion (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (le)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: legion
- Plural: legions
Word family
Forms
legions
noun
Core family
legionary
noun
Related words
legionnaire
noun
Expressions
a legion of
1/ə lˈid͡ʒən əv/
fixed phrase
a very large number of
Used before a plural noun to mean there are very many of that thing.
Examples
- The company attracted a legion of new users after the update.
- She has a legion of loyal followers on social media.
- There are a legion of reasons to support the project.
be legion
1/bˈi lˈid͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
literary
to exist in great numbers
Used after a noun to say that this kind of thing exists in very large numbers.
Examples
- In big cities, stories of fraud are legion.
- Examples of this kind of mistake are legion in academic writing.
- Online, complaints about the service are legion.
French Foreign Legion
1/fɹˈɛnt͡ʃ fˈɔɹən lˈid͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
French Army unit of foreign volunteers
A special part of the French Army where many soldiers are from other countries.
Examples
- He dreamed of joining the French Foreign Legion when he was young.
- The French Foreign Legion is famous for its tough training.
- Many books and films tell stories about the French Foreign Legion.
legions of
1/lˈid͡ʒənz əv/
fixed phrase
very many; countless
Used before a plural noun to say there are extremely many of that thing.
Examples
- Legions of fans waited outside the stadium all night.
- There are legions of examples of this problem in the report.
- Legions of tourists visit the city every summer.
my name is Legion
1/mˈaɪ nˈeɪm ˈɪz lˈid͡ʒən/
idiom
literary
I represent many people
A literary or humorous way to say that there are many of us, or that one person speaks for a large group.
Examples
- When asked who opposed the plan, she simply said, "My name is Legion."
- On the internet, critics are everywhere; as the saying goes, "my name is Legion."
- He joked "my name is Legion" when he saw how many emails he had to answer.
the American Legion
1/ðə əmˈɛɹɪkən lˈid͡ʒən/
fixed phrase
U.S. veterans' organization
A large organization in the United States for people who were in the U.S. armed forces.
Examples
- Her grandfather is active in the American Legion.
- The American Legion helped organize the parade.
- He volunteers at events run by the American Legion.