American Legion
11
3.5
- proper noun
- /əˈmɛrɪkən ˈlɛdʒən/
- US
:
American Legion
- Duga asked the American Legion honor guard if she could pass off the flag to the next of kin.
- American Legion post
- American Legion National Commander
Examples
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She won that American Legion scholarship to college.
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Among these groups are the UDC, the American Legion, and the Daughters of Union Veterans.
Academic text (1994) -
It's an American Legion post.
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So will the American Legion.
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I think it gives the American Legion a big boost.
Blog text (19) -
The event will feature speakers, and the American Legion Band will perform.
Blog text (19) -
POTUS is scheduled to address the American Legion on the third.
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Since then, the American Legion and other VSOs have asked every session of Congress to reverse the policy.
Academic text (2010) -
A month before the Buy Local Bash, on a rainy Wednesday night, the American Legion hall in the historic village of Voorheesville was filled to capacity.
Academic text (2010) -
Many veterans find support and camaraderie at the local American Legion post.
Synonyms
51
5.6
A group of former soldiers who meet to support each other
Surface Forms
Morphology
The name 'American Legion' is compositionally clear: 'American' specifies the United States and 'legion' (an association of ex-soldiers) yields the meaning of a U.S. veterans' organization, so a learner who knows both constituents can infer the MWE's meaning. Although it is a proper name for a specific organization, the constituent meanings map directly onto the definition, making it readily understandable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
American Legion comes from the word legion, which means a large group of soldiers. After World War I, American soldiers formed such a group to help each other, so today American Legion means a national organization for 'veterans' that supports 'patriotism'.