minor-league
/ˈmaɪnə liːɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈmaɪnər liːɡ/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌmaɪ.nəˈliːɡ/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌmaɪ.nɚˈliːɡ/ (ame, ipa)
minor-league — noun
1. A professional sports league whose teams compete at a level below the most impor
A professional sports league whose teams compete at a level below the most important league of that sport. In US baseball, this refers to the system of leagues below Major League Baseball where younger players train and gain experience.
Tomás played in the minor leagues for three seasons before joining the Chicago Cubs.
prepositional: in the minor leagues
The minor leagues help young baseball players develop their skills through daily games and coaching.
A new minor league was formed last year for teams in the Pacific Northwest region.
Rachel signed a contract with a minor league in Florida after graduating from high school.
Scouts from every Major League team come to watch the minor-league games for new talent.
- farm system
refers specifically to the development system in baseball, while 'minor league' is the league itself
- developmental league
more generic term used across different sports; less tied to US baseball tradition
- major league
the highest level league in a professional sport
文法句型
play in the minor leagues
minor league + noun
用法筆記
As a noun, the plural form 'minor leagues' is more common when referring to the entire system across a sport. The singular 'minor league' is used for an individual league within that system.
常見錯誤
minor-league — adjective
1. Describing the professional sports tier that is one step below the highest-level
Describing the professional sports tier that is one step below the highest-level league, especially in US baseball. Used for teams, players, competitions, or facilities at that level.
Yan bought tickets to a minor-league baseball game for his nephew's birthday.
minor-league + baseball game
The minor-league pitcher threw seven shutout innings in front of the scouts from New York.
Several minor-league stadiums offer more affordable seats and family-friendly activities than major-league parks.
The team hired a new manager from the minor-league system to lead their young players.
Omar collects signed balls from minor-league players he meets during road trips across the Midwest.
- farm
used in 'farm team' or 'farm system' specifically for baseball; narrower in scope
- lower-tier
broader — can describe any competitive level, not just sports
- major-league
the highest professional level in a sport
文法句型
minor-league + noun (player, team, game, stadium)
用法筆記
This sense is used only before a noun (attributive position) and does not take comparative forms. 'Minor-league' in this sense is almost always hyphenated when used as an adjective.
常見錯誤
2. Not very important, influential, or impressive when compared to the best or most
Not very important, influential, or impressive when compared to the best or most respected examples of its kind. Suggests a dismissive judgment about the quality, scale, or seriousness of something.
The local conference felt minor-league compared to the international summit in Geneva.
pattern: felt minor-league compared to
Théo runs a minor-league website that attracts only a few hundred visitors each month.
Critics described the film as a minor-league attempt at a superhero story with weak acting.
That software company is still minor-league compared to the industry giants in Silicon Valley.
Saira refused to work for a minor-league operation that could not offer health insurance.
- small-time
more informal, often used for criminals or businesses; 'minor-league' is broader
- second-rate
focuses on quality rather than status; 'minor-league' implies lower standing or influence
- unimportant
more neutral and formal; 'minor-league' has a dismissive, casual tone
- major-league
the metaphorical opposite — important, first-rate, influential
- big-time
informal opposite; suggests high status and success
文法句型
minor-league + noun (effort, operation, attempt, company)
用法筆記
Used informally with a dismissive or slightly contemptuous tone. Often appears in the comparative structure '[something] is minor-league compared to [something else].' Distinguish from sense 1 (SPORTS RANK), which is a neutral description of a sports tier.