cheerleader

American  

[cheer-lee-der] / ˈtʃɪərˌli dər /

noun

1. a person who leads spectators in cheering, usually a member of a team that performs dance, acrobatic, and tumbling routines at sporting events or in competitions with other teams.

2. a person who encourages and openly supports the success of a person or cause.

   Her dad has always been her biggest cheerleader.

   He emerged as a cheerleader for the rights of the incarcerated.

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cheerleader British  

/ ˈtʃɪəˌliːdə /

noun

1. a person who leads a crowd in formal cheers, esp at sports events

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Etymology

Origin of cheerleader

An Americanism dating back to 1900–05; cheer + leader

Explanation

A cheerleader is a member of a team that performs synchronized cheers and dance routines, usually from the sidelines of a game. The best cheerleaders are extremely strong and flexible, with a great sense of rhythm. The main job of a cheerleader is to rally a sports team to victory, although many cheerleaders also perform complex acrobatic routines. The traditional uniform that a cheerleader wears includes a short skirt or shorts. In the late 19th century, cheerleaders were simply college students in the stands who called out school cheers in unison. By the 1890s, official cheerleading squads were formed, originally including only men — no women or girls were cheerleaders until 1923.

Example Sentences

Lilly received an endorsement from an unlikely cheerleader on Thursday: S&P Global Ratings, which upgraded Lilly’s issuer credit rating to AA- from A+ while maintaining a positive outlook.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

Now the King had to be the cheerleader for such threatened values, talking of the need for an international rule of law and the importance of a shared belief in "democratic, legal and social traditions".

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

Retired wrestler and cheerleader Stacy Keibler shared a photo of herself and Van Der Beek taking in a sunset as the actor was seated in a wheelchair.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

Stacy Keibler, a retired wrestler and cheerleader, got to spend Van Der Beek’s final days with him, which she described as “a true gift from God.”

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 11, 2026

It wasn’t every day that a cheerleader came to call.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey