major league

noun

1

: a league of highest classification in U.S. professional baseball

broadly : a league of major importance in any of various sports

2

: big time sense 2

major-league

ˈmā-jər-ˈlēg 

adjective

major leaguer noun

Synonyms of major league

• big(s)
• big time

Examples of major league in a Sentence

when you've landed a tenure-track position at that university, you're playing in the major leagues

Recent Examples on the Web

Toronto pitchers combined to strike out 50 A's batters over the weekend, a major league record for the most strikeouts in any team's first three games of the season. —CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026

Heading into this season, Gray had 47 games of major league experience, appearing at first, second, third and shortstop. —Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026

After Harrison Bader struck out, Vitello lifted Adames for pinch-runner Jared Oliva, who appeared in his first major league game since July 2021. —Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Mar. 2026

If my informal eight-man panel is correct, the Rockies will join Gil Hodges, Don Lock, and Claude Osteen in an infamous chapter in major league history. —Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 28 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for major league

• chincoteague
• blitzkrieg
• fatigue
• intrigue
• muskeg

Kids Definition

major league

noun

: a league in the highest class of U.S. professional sports