leadership

noun

lead·​er·​ship ˈlē-dər-ˌship How to pronounce leadership (audio)
Synonyms of leadershipnext
1
: the office or position of a leader
recently assumed the leadership of the company
2
: capacity to lead
a politician who lacks leadership
3
: the act or an instance of leading
leadership molds individuals into a team …Harold Koontz and Cyril O'Donnell
4
: leaders
the party leadership

Examples of leadership in a Sentence

a politician who lacks leadership What this country needs is the exercise of strong leadership!
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.
The administration and Kennedy Center leadership have increasingly emphasized patriotic programming as part of a broader effort to reshape Washington’s cultural landscape ahead of the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration. Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 28 May 2026 Six Premier League titles, Champions League glory and a relentless winning mentality transformed City into one of Europe’s elite clubs under the Spaniard’s leadership. Dean Jones, New York Times, 28 May 2026 Some want their philanthropy to play a leadership role by convening others, influencing the field, or funding innovative work. Kris Putnam-Walkerly, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026 UnidosUS notes that both parties are underperforming their 2024 levels among Latinos, which could be a sign of the broader voter discontent across the electorate towards the leadership of both parties. Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 27 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for leadership

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leadership was in 1765

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Cite this Entry

“Leadership.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leadership. Accessed 29 May. 2026.

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