minor league

noun

: a league of professional clubs in a sport other than the recognized major leagues
minor-league adjective

Examples of minor league in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 10th overall pick out of Gonzaga in 2022 missed the entire 2024 minor league season recovering from Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 31 Aug. 2025 More Sam Hodde/Getty Images Bowman joined the Orioles organization in August 2024 on a minor league deal. Noah Camras, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025 Still, minor league baseball has a disadvantage on name recognition, said Patrick Rishe, executive director of the sports business program at Washington University in St. Louis. Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025 The data is slightly misleading this season given how the Athletics and Rays are playing regular season home ball games in minor league ballparks with seating capacities of less than 15,000 for fans. Wayne G. McDonnell, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for minor league

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of minor league was in 1884

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Minor league.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minor%20league. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

minor league

noun
: a professional sports league (as in baseball) that is not one of the major leagues

More from Merriam-Webster on minor league

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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