# legion

/ˈɫidʒən/ (US) · /lˈiːdʒən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/legion
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. Ancient Roman army unit

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- The Roman legion marched across the bridge to reach the city.
- Historians estimate that a single Roman legion at full strength could maintain control over a vast territory through disciplined engineering and logistics.

### 2. a large number

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a very large number of people or things.

For teachers: a vast multitude or a great number of people or things.

- A legion of fans waited outside the stadium to see the singer.
- The author faced a legion of critics who disagreed with his interpretation of the historical data.

### 3. veterans' association

noun · CEFR B2

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

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

- My grandfather goes to the local legion every Friday to meet his old friends.
- The Royal British Legion provides essential financial and emotional support to veterans and their families across the United Kingdom.

### 4. very numerous

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

For teachers: existing in great numbers; numerous or vast.

- The problems with the new software are legion.
- 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'.

## Examples

- Legions of fans waited outside the stadium for the singer.
- The company faced legions of complaints after the software update caused thousands of computers to crash.
- While the Roman legion remains a symbol of ancient military discipline, the term now more commonly describes the overwhelming number of volunteers required to staff such a massive event.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.