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

Leonardo Fernandez / Getty Images Miami's Otto López didn't play, ending with a major league-best 191 hits. — CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026

After a long, oddly relevant riff about applying for a job that calls for five year’s experience when one year might be enough, Tolle used the example of facing the Pirates’ star Paul Skenes in his first major league start in August 2025. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

Otto Lopez had two hits for the Marlins, increasing his major league-leading total to 191. — Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026

Peterson allowed two runs on three hits and two walks, striking out five in five innings in his second major league appearance. — ABC News, 27 Sep. 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