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
Suspended by leather thongs on either side of the same belt were leggings worn [by Plains men] as protection against cold temperatures or intense sun.—John Koster
John KosterExamples of legging in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The first part of the preteen’s wishlist featured pricey items like a $90 sweatshirt, $98 Lululemon leggings, the new iPhone 17, and a lineup of makeup and skincare products.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025
Last night at the IndieWire Honors, The Chronology of Water director hit the carpet in the sheer white leggings worn over a pair of white briefs, creating a double CK waistband.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2025
Cushionaire Hip 2 Ankle Boots For starters, the boots are crafted with a 100 percent suede upper that’s not only soft to the touch, but also has a matte-like finish that pairs well with casual leggings or jeans, or even with a more elevated sweater dress.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
The leggings and brief portion of Stewart’s attire debuted on the spring 2026 ready-to-wear runway during New York Fashion Week in September.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 5 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legging
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Tereza Shkurtaj, PEOPLE, 7 Dec. 2025
Last night at the IndieWire Honors, The Chronology of Water director hit the carpet in the sheer white leggings worn over a pair of white briefs, creating a double CK waistband.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2025
Cushionaire Hip 2 Ankle Boots For starters, the boots are crafted with a 100 percent suede upper that’s not only soft to the touch, but also has a matte-like finish that pairs well with casual leggings or jeans, or even with a more elevated sweater dress.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 5 Dec. 2025
The leggings and brief portion of Stewart’s attire debuted on the spring 2026 ready-to-wear runway during New York Fashion Week in September.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 5 Dec. 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 12 Dec. 2025.
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