legging

noun

leg·​ging ˈle-gən How to pronounce legging (audio)
 also  ˈlā-,
-giŋ
variants or less commonly leggin
ˈle-gən How to pronounce legging (audio)
 also  ˈlā-
plural leggings also leggins
1
a
: pants that are made of a material that stretches to fit tightly around the legs
usually used in plural
Lycra-cotton leggings and tunic tops are the pregnant woman's best friend, sartorially speaking.Anne Reeks
b
: tights
usually used in plural
Something about the name "footed leggings" just makes these sound way warmer than your basic tights.Melanie Richtman
2
a
: a covering (as of leather or cloth) for the legs worn over pants for protection
usually used in plural
Welding leggings protect the lower leg (from the knee down) from sparks and spatter. Leather is naturally abrasion and flame resistant for use in applications with heavy sparks and spatter.Grainger.com
b
: a pair of separate coverings (as of leather or cloth) for the legs
usually used in plural
… "leggings [worn by Plains Indians men] reached from the ankle to the thigh and were held in place by tying thongs, attached to their tops, to the belt. …"Norman Feder, quoted in Dress Clothing of the Plains Indians

Examples of legging in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Amazon shoppers can save on fashion essentials including leggings, jeans, swimwear, and comfortable shoes. Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024 Pair it with leggings, jeans, slacks, or shorts, then head out to dinner looking like a million bucks. Kristine Solomon, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024 Everyone wore a uniform of tiny dresses or tight leggings. Hazlitt, 13 Mar. 2024 On a recent Tuesday after school, A. wore purple leggings and a favorite purple, pink and white striped dress while running around a neighborhood playground with a friend from kindergarten. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 Quality brands may be less inclined to forge old-fashioned creator partnerships on TikTok while the platform elevates Shop content—usually cheap dollar store merchandise like a $1.59 light-up toy, $5.88 butt-enhancing leggings, and $1.51 Mexican chips. Alexandra Sternlicht, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2024 To complete your look, consider trying the Amazon Essentials Women's Active Sculpt High Rise Capri Legging, which is our top pick for the best plus size workout leggings on Amazon. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 28 Feb. 2024 Athleta recently gave away 3,000 pairs of their most popular leggings in exchange for a pair of leggings from any brand. Nikki Baird, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The smocked elastic can be worn on or off the shoulders, and the flowy hem adds movement that works perfectly over leggings or jeans. Wendy Vazquez, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'legging.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Time Traveler
The first known use of legging was in 1718

Dictionary Entries Near legging

Cite this Entry

“Legging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legging. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

legging

noun
leg·​ging
variants or leggin
ˈleg-ən How to pronounce legging (audio)
ˈleg-iŋ
: a covering for the leg

More from Merriam-Webster on legging

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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