minor league

noun

: a league of professional clubs in a sport other than the recognized major leagues
minor-league
ˈmī-nər-ˈlēg How to pronounce minor league (audio)
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.
With the woeful Colorado Rockies coming to the Bronx, the Yankees could, effectively, treat those three games as the equivalent of a minor league rehab assignment for Judge. — Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026 The two maintained a relationship after their first chat, as Nomo’s job called for occasional check-ins with the Padres’ minor league affiliates. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 6 Sep. 2026 Peterson has been a starter throughout his minor league career, since Cleveland drafted him in the ninth round in 2022. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 Sep. 2026 If owners lock out major league players for all or part of the season, in a year Mozeliak suggests might be best remembered for the development of minor league players, that might be no great loss for the Angels. — Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026 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

Rhymes for minor league

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Browse Nearby Words

minor key
minor league
minor leaguer
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Cite this Entry

“Minor league.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/minor%20league. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about minor league

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