Definition

Noun 1. A former military unit of the French Army composed primarily of foreign volunteers: The French Foreign Legion was a historically significant branch of the French Army, established for service in territories outside mainland France. It was known for accepting recruits from various nationalities and for its demanding military duties in French colonial possessions.

Usage

• The French Foreign Legion was deployed to numerous conflicts across North Africa and Indochina.
• Many novels and films have romanticized the harsh life of a soldier in the French Foreign Legion.

Advanced Usage

• Historical Context: The term is often used to discuss 19th and 20th-century colonial history, military history, or themes of identity and reinvention, as the Legion allowed volunteers to enlist under a new identity.
• Figurative Use: Sometimes used metaphorically to describe a group or organization that is tough, accepts outsiders, or handles difficult, undesirable tasks.
  • Example: The overnight cleaning crew is like the office's French Foreign Legion.

Variants and Related Words

• Foreign Legion: A more general term for a military unit composed of foreign volunteers. The "French Foreign Legion" is the most famous specific example.
• Légion étrangère: The original French name for the French Foreign Legion.

Synonyms

• Legion (in specific historical contexts)
• The Legion

Notes on Meaning

• The definition specifies "former," indicating the classic, historical iteration of the unit. The modern French Foreign Legion still exists but is integrated differently within the French Armed Forces and its role has evolved.
• Its core historical meaning is inextricably linked to France's colonial empire and military campaigns abroad.

Noun

1. a former foreign legion in the French army that was used for military duties outside of France