What does "legion" mean?

1. (Ancient Roman army unit) a large group of soldiers in the army of Ancient Rome. 2. (a large number) a very large number of people or things. 3. (veterans' association) a national organization for people who used to be in the military. 4. (very numerous) used to say that there are a very great number of something.

How do you use "legion"?

Always used after the noun it describes, following the verb 'to be'.

legion

n. · adj.

US //ˈɫidʒən// UK //lˈiːdʒən// le·gion

1 Ancient Roman army unit (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Law

a large group of soldiers in the army of Ancient Rome.

the principal unit of the Roman army, typically consisting of 3,000 to 6,000 infantry and a small cavalry component.

Example

The Roman legion marched across the bridge to reach the city.

Example

Historians estimate that a single Roman legion at full strength could maintain control over a vast territory through disciplined engineering and logistics.
- unit
- division
2 a large number (n.)
C1 Advanced Literary

a very large number of people or things.

a vast multitude or a great number of people or things.

Example

A legion of fans waited outside the stadium to see the singer.

Example

The author faced a legion of critics who disagreed with his interpretation of the historical data.
- handful
- few

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3 veterans' association (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

a national organization for people who used to be in the military.

a national association of former military personnel, often involved in advocacy and social support.

Example

My grandfather goes to the local legion every Friday to meet his old friends.

Example

The Royal British Legion provides essential financial and emotional support to veterans and their families across the United Kingdom.
- association
- organization
4 very numerous (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

used to say that there are a very great number of something.

existing in great numbers; numerous or vast.

Example

The problems with the new software are legion.

Example

While the benefits of the new policy are clear, the potential administrative hurdles are legion and require careful planning.

Usage

Always used after the noun it describes, following the verb 'to be'.
- scarce
- rare

Origin

Attested (in Middle English, as legioun) around 1200, from Old French legion, from Latin legiō, legionem, from legō (“to gather, collect”); akin to legend, lecture. Doublet of León, which was borrowed from Spanish. Generalized sense of “a large number” is due to an allusive phrase in Mark 5:9, "My name is Legion, for we are many".