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

The brand’s wide-leg options are just as comfortable as their leggings, and are just as stylish. —Neha Tandon, Travel + Leisure, 16 July 2024

Check out the Amazon essentials our editors swear by: Amazon travel accessories Amazon wedding guest dresses Amazon leggings Amazon workout sets Amazon gift ideas Travel gadgets under $50 What did Traveler readers purchase most last Prime Day? —Meaghan Kenny, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 July 2024

In the sweet announcement post, Mariko entered a living room, walking past a Christmas tree while wearing a cozy sweater and leggings. —Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 15 July 2024

The fabric’s popularity started to boom as consumers emerged from the pandemic with a desire to elevate their wardrobes from lockdown-era leggings and sweatpants. —Hannah Ziegler, Washington Post, 15 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Kids Definition

legging

noun

leg·​ging

variants or leggin

ˈleg-ən 

ˈleg-iŋ

: a covering for the leg