legging

noun

leg·​ging ˈle-gən 

 also  ˈlā-,

-giŋ

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

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

Choose a solid base layer, such as icebreaker’s Merino 200 Oasis long-sleeve thermal tops and leggings, which are 100 percent merino wool and have technical details like flatlock seams and offset shoulder seams to reduce friction. —AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025

In Motion Airy Sleek Legging Friendly Sweatshirt For a sportier style similar to the quarter-zip Witherspoon wore, opt for this sweatshirt that is made from a spandex-blend material and goes well with leggings or sweatpants. —Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

For the casual afternoon outing, the Skn by LH founder wore a black formfitting tank top and coordinating high-rise leggings from Lululemon. —Kelsey Stewart, Footwear News, 29 Oct. 2025

The line features San Francisco 49ers men’s and women’s apparel, including hoodies, joggers, quarter-zips, leggings, and accessories designed with the brand’s signature materials and sleek, minimalist style. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Rhymes for legging

• begging
• pegging
• bootlegging

Kids Definition

legging

noun

leg·​ging

variants or leggin

ˈleg-ən 

ˈleg-iŋ

: a covering for the leg