leadership

[lee-der-ship]

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.

Origin of leadership

First recorded in 1815–25; leader + -ship

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

Related Words for leadership

control, direction, management, power, influence, administration, authority, initiative, command, skill, foresight, capacity, preeminence, conveyance, supremacy, domination, superiority, hegemony, sway, primacy

Examples from the Web for leadership

Contemporary Examples of leadership

In the 90s, it kept gay men out of leadership roles in the Boy Scouts of America.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic
Samantha Allen
January 9, 2015
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of leadership

For not only leadership is passed from generation to generation, but so is stewardship.
United States Presidents' Inaugural Speeches
Various
The Earth people revolted, under the leadership of Amos Peabody.
Slaves of Mercury
Nat Schachner
There is no doubt about your leadership by sea: it is already secured.
Hellenica
Xenophon
These are the folk over whom you will exercise your leadership.
Hellenica
Xenophon
Like Tom Sawyer, he loved the glare and trappings of leadership.
Mark Twain, A Biography, 1835-1910, Complete
Albert Bigelow Paine

British Dictionary definitions for leadership

leadership

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

Word Origin and History for leadership

1821, "position of a leader," from leader + -ship. Sense extended by late 19c. to "characteristics necessary to be a leader."