legion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "legion" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a large number of people or things, often implying that they are numerous or widespread. Example: "The challenges we face are legion, but we will overcome them together."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

53 human-written examples

What luck, then, to find the toweringly meritorious figure of Thomas Piketty, the French economist, encapsulating the objections in his rejection of the of the Legion d'Honneur.

The Guardian - Opinion

A Gang of Nine going after John Boehner is as terrifying as when the Legion of Doom tried to take over the world in a Superfriends episode.

The Guardian - Opinion

The traps that might open up are legion.

The Guardian - Film

Last month, Preibus and a handful of top lieutenants carefully telegraphed the findings of a new report wherein the party's legion political liabilities were diagnosed.

The Guardian - Opinion

Born in 1910, abandoned and brought up by the state, homosexual, imprisoned for thieving at 16, sent out to join the foreign legion at 18, then imprisoned for petty crime repeatedly in the 1940s, he had at the same time produced the masterpieces that attracted the attention and solidarity of Cocteau, Sartre and André Breton.

The Guardian - Books

Griffin purists and experts (believe me they are legion, as I, a novice, discovered after writing a book about Canberra) still regard the initial decision to place the George V monument on the land axis as some sort of heresy.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

And so many of the cultural affiliations of military life – regiments, the Royal British Legion, the commanders-in-chief – are intimately bound up with the historic Protestant and imperial attributes of the British royal family.

The Guardian

There was no precise time I became a thief, just a metempsychosis of Uranus that saw me graduate from the Reformatory to the Foreign Legion and thence to the piss and shit of the sewers.

The Guardian - Books

Confronted by the Sunday Times, Kiszley insisted he "always kept my role as national president of the Royal British Legion completely separate from my business interests".

The Guardian

Addressing the American Legion in Reno, Nevada, Bush said: "Iran's active pursuit of technology that could lead to nuclear weapons threatens to put a region already known for instability and violence under the shadow of a nuclear holocaust".

The Guardian - Opinion

After his death, the Royal British Legion said Jordan's decision to go to France highlighted "the spirit that epitomises the second world war generation".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the connotations of "legion". While it can simply mean 'many', it often carries a sense of imposing size or organized force.

Common error

Avoid using "legion" when a simpler word like "many" or "numerous" would suffice, especially in informal writing. Overusing it can make your writing sound pretentious or overly dramatic.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "legion" is as a noun, referring to a large military unit or a vast number of people. It can also function as an adjective, meaning numerous. Ludwig examples show its versatility in different sentence structures.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Formal & Business

20%

Science

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

3%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "legion" is a versatile term that functions as both a noun and an adjective, denoting a large number or, historically, a Roman military unit. As Ludwig AI highlights, it is grammatically correct and usable in various contexts. While "legion" is commonly found in news and formal writing, writers should use it judiciously to avoid sounding pretentious. Alternatives such as "numerous" or "a multitude" may be more appropriate in informal settings. The phrase's authoritative sourcing and frequent usage underscore its reliability and acceptance in modern English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

numerous

Directly expresses a large quantity, without the historical or figurative weight of "legion".

a multitude

This phrase, like "legion", refers to a large number of things or people, but doesn't carry the military connotation.

countless

Emphasizes the inability to count the items in question, a slightly different focus than the large but finite sense of "legion".

innumerable

Similar to "countless", indicating a quantity too great to be counted; "legion" can imply a known, if large, number.

a great number

Similar to "legion" in denoting quantity, but more general and lacks the specific historical or organizational associations.

myriad

This word signifies a vast and varied number, but without the historical or military implications of "legion".

an army of

This phrase often implies a large group working towards a common goal, where "legion" can be simply a large number.

a host

This term suggests a large assembly, but is often used in a more celebratory or welcoming context than "legion".

a sea of

This is a metaphor for a large expanse or quantity, lacking the organizational connotations of "legion".

a throng

Implies a dense crowd of people, lacking the structured or organized aspect sometimes associated with "legion".

FAQs

How can I use "legion" in a sentence?

You can use "legion" to describe a large number of things or people, such as "The problems facing the company are legion" or "A legion of volunteers helped with the event".

What words can I use instead of "legion"?

Alternatives to "legion" include "numerous", "a multitude", "countless", and "myriad" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "problems are legion"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. "Legion" can function as a predicate adjective, meaning numerous or abundant. Ludwig AI confirms that it follows standard grammar rules.

What is the difference between "legion" and "battalion"?

"Legion" refers to a large military unit (historically Roman) or a vast number, while "battalion" specifically denotes a military unit typically composed of several companies.