leadership

[ lee-der-ship ]

/ ˈli dərˌʃɪp /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR leadership ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the position or function of a leader, a person who guides or directs a group: He managed to maintain his leadership of the party despite heavy opposition.

ability to lead: As early as sixth grade she displayed remarkable leadership potential.

an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction: They prospered under his strong leadership.

the leaders of a group: The union leadership agreed to arbitrate.

Nearby words

leader block, leader board, leader cable, leader head, leaderboard, leadership, leadfoot, leadfooted, leading, leading aircraftman, leading article

Origin of leadership

First recorded in 1815–25; leader + -ship

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for leadership

Plenty of conservative commentators have said he should step down from his leadership position.
Today’s GOP: Still Cool With Racist Pandering?|Michael Tomasky|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In contrast, Boehner's leadership team filed into his ceremonial office and greeted the teary newly-elected Speaker with hugs.
Democrats Accidentally Save Boehner From Republican Coup|Ben Jacobs, Jackie Kucinich|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The leadership needed in America today is not to run the country, but to rebuild it.
Red Tape Is Strangling Good Samaritans|Philip K. Howard|December 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The news that Grimm was set to plead guilty sent shockwaves through the leadership of the Republican Party on Staten Island.
The Felon Who Wouldn’t Leave Congress|Ben Jacobs, David Freedlander|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The House Republican leadership could barely win a procedural vote earlier Thursday afternoon.
Bachmann and Pelosi vs. Boehner and Obama Over Spending Bill|Ben Jacobs|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All his proceedings certainly seem to require an opposite construction, and to contemplate his own leadership.'
The Life of William Ewart Gladstone, Vol. 1 (of 3)|John Morley
But she gave in, notwithstanding her leadership, before the chill of Merles little reserves.
Twos and Threes|G. B. Stern
Not so should a war-party have returned, under the leadership of Kah-go-mish.
The Red Mustang|William O. Stoddard
Even when most of them had accepted his leadership and were obeying his orders, a handful of desperate men refused to go.
Famous Sea Fights|John Richard Hale
In a few years he succeeded in uniting this tribe with the Yanktons and then secured the leadership.
The Spirit Lake Massacre|Thomas Teakle

British Dictionary definitions for leadership

leadership

/ (ˈliːdəʃɪp) /

noun

the position or function of a leader

the period during which a person occupies the position of leaderduring her leadership very little was achieved

the ability to lead
(as modifier)leadership qualities

the leaders as a group of a party, union, etcthe union leadership is now very reactionary

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012