cross-legged

adverb or adjective

ˈkrȯs-ˌle-gəd 

-ˌlā-;

-ˌlegd,

-ˌlāgd

1

: with legs crossed and knees spread wide apart

2

: with one leg placed over and across the other

Examples of cross-legged in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After the attack, he was videotaped sitting cross-legged on the sidewalk, covered in blood and holding the golf club in one hand. —Kc Baker, People.com, 13 Aug. 2025

In the first video, a man sat cross-legged in the middle of a muddy field. —Hazlitt, 16 July 2025

Inside the white fence that rings the field, uncomfortably close to the action, the owners unfold deck chairs and settle in with their grandchildren cross-legged on the floor around them. —Camilla Wright, semafor.com, 11 July 2025

Those using it can sit upright, sit cross-legged, lean back, sit diagonally so the hammock fabric supports their legs, and otherwise move and contort into various positions for extra comfort. —New Atlas, 30 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cross-legged

• legged

Kids Definition

cross-legged

adverb

ˈkrȯ-ˈsleg(-ə)d

: with the legs crossed and the knees spread wide