variants
or less commonly leggin
ˈle-gən 
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
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
Melanie Richtman2
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
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
Norman Feder, quoted in Dress Clothing of the Plains IndiansExamples of legging in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The little one appeared to be wearing yellow leggings or a yellow onesie, while Hailey was bare-faced.
—Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
This lightweight merino wool would have been the perfect solution, along with thermal leggings and wicking wool crew socks.
—Anna Fiorentino, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2025
As well as underwear and swimwear, the brand also offers a range of leggings, such as the High Waisted Shaping Leggings (£29.99) which, crafted for all-day comfort, are perfect to wear on long-haul flights.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
In early fall, use it as a warm accent with your favorite summer dresses, then pair it with jeans or leggings once the weather cools down later in the season.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legging
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Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 21 Aug. 2025
This lightweight merino wool would have been the perfect solution, along with thermal leggings and wicking wool crew socks.
—Anna Fiorentino, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2025
As well as underwear and swimwear, the brand also offers a range of leggings, such as the High Waisted Shaping Leggings (£29.99) which, crafted for all-day comfort, are perfect to wear on long-haul flights.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2025
In early fall, use it as a warm accent with your favorite summer dresses, then pair it with jeans or leggings once the weather cools down later in the season.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legging
Cite this Entry
“Legging.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/legging. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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