National Football Conference

League \League\ (l[=e]g), n. [F. ligue, LL. liga, fr. L. ligare
   to bind; cf. Sp. liga. Cf. {Ally} a confederate, {Ligature}.]
   1. An alliance or combination of two or more nations,
      parties, organizations, or persons, for the accomplishment
      of a purpose which requires a continued course of action,
      as for mutual defense, or for furtherance of commercial,
      religious, or political interests, etc.
      [1913 Webster]

            And let there be
            'Twixt us and them no league, nor amity. --Denham.
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   2. Specifically: (Sports) An association of sports teams that
      establishes rules of play, decides questions of membership
      in the league, and organizes matches between the member
      teams. In some cases a sports league is called a
      {conference}, as in the {National Football Conference}.
      [PJC]

   Note: A league may be offensive or defensive, or both;
         offensive, when the parties agree to unite in attacking
         a common enemy; defensive, when they agree to a mutual
         defense of each other against an enemy.
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   {The Holy League}, an alliance of Roman Catholics formed in
      1576 by influence of the Duke of Guise for the exclusion
      of Protestants from the throne of France.

   {Solemn League and Covenant}. See {Covenant},2.

   {The land league}, an association, organized in Dublin in
      1879, to promote the interests of the Irish tenantry, its
      avowed objects being to secure fixity of tenure, fair
      rent, and free sale of the tenants' interest. It was
      declared illegal by Parliament, but vigorous prosecutions
      have failed to suppress it.

   Syn: Alliance; confederacy; confederation; coalition;
        combination; compact; cooperation.
        [1913 Webster]