leadership
Americannoun
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leaderships
plural
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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.
- Synonyms:
- hegemony, stewardship, governorship, control, directorship, management, administration
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ability to lead.
As early as sixth grade she displayed remarkable leadership potential.
- Synonyms:
- clout, sway, effectiveness, command, influence, authoritativeness
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an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction.
They prospered under his strong leadership.
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the leaders of a group.
The union leadership agreed to arbitrate.
noun
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the position or function of a leader
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the period during which a person occupies the position of leader
during her leadership very little was achieved
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the ability to lead
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( as modifier )
leadership qualities
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the leaders as a group of a party, union, etc
the union leadership is now very reactionary
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of leadership
Explanation
Leadership is the action of leading a group of people. Or, the actual people who lead the group. If you think you have leadership skills, you better be able to rally the troops and get the job done. Leadership can be the act of leading, or a name for the group of people doing the leading. The House leadership, newly emboldened by election results, may set an ambitious agenda for the new session of Congress. Your own leadership skills may be called into question if your entire staff resigns and goes to work for your competitor.
Vocabulary lists containing leadership
"Speaking Up"
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"Principles of Business," Vocabulary from Chapter 7
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"Speeches on the Little Rock Nine"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
One of Jeff Simmons’ pivotal leadership lessons came when he was 7 years old.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
The audit said the state agency’s leadership disciplined the officer but did not provide any details.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026
These missions will deliver scientific instruments and new technologies intended to expand American leadership in space science, support a sustained lunar presence, and prepare for more ambitious human exploration.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2026
South Korea's military demanded an official apology last week, accusing Pyongyang of "a clear violation of the Armistice Agreement", while Seoul's civilian leadership called for the North to return to dialogue.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
But he had still acquired a hero’s reputation for bravery and staunch leadership under fire.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
That represents only 0.1 percent of the total, but would be a significant sum for the leaderships of FIFA's poorer or smaller members.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
While both groups have recruited new fighters to fill their ranks, their military leaderships are still in disarray, some of the people familiar with intelligence said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 31, 2025
“An effective U.S. deterrent threat must hold at risk what contemporary hostile leaderships value most, because they are the audience that must be deterred,” the report states.
From Washington Times ● Sep. 27, 2023
The Americans are by far still the most powerful single diplomatic force able to influence both Israeli and Palestinian leaderships, but they have significant limits.
From BBC ● Jan. 31, 2023
New men in party leaderships came in the composite Cabinet of Moderate leanings led by Charles Dupuy in April, 1893.
From A History of the Third French Republic by C. H. C. (Charles Henry Conrad) Wright
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
