leadership

[lee-der-ship]

noun

1. 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

2. ability to lead.

   As early as sixth grade she displayed remarkable leadership potential.

   Synonyms: clout, sway, effectiveness, command, influence, authoritativeness

3. an act or instance of leading; guidance; direction.

   They prospered under his strong leadership.

4. the leaders of a group.

   The union leadership agreed to arbitrate.

leadership

/ ˈliːdəʃɪp /

noun

1. the position or function of a leader

2. the period during which a person occupies the position of leader

   during her leadership very little was achieved

3. 1. the ability to lead

   2. ( as modifier )

      leadership qualities

4. the leaders as a group of a party, union, etc

   the union leadership is now very reactionary

Word History and Origins

Origin of leadership¹

First recorded in 1815–25; leader + -ship

Example Sentences

Jana said in a statement that it plans to engage with Six Flags’ board and management team to improve the company’s marketing strategy and operations, accelerate technology modernization, assess its leadership and evaluate potential acquisitions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Amid its split with Adventist, Howard has restructured most of its leadership and appointed an interim president.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Reports, often based on anonymous leaks, tell us about how Mr. Cash allegedly conveyed to Mr. Berry gossip about leadership jockeying within the then-governing Conservative Party, information Mr. Berry supposedly passed to a Chinese agent.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Advanced economies either build the infrastructure to support modern industry or they cede technological leadership to whoever did.

Read more on MarketWatch

Since taking power in 2012, Xi has packed the leadership with loyalists, sidelined subordinates who owed their rise to predecessors and even cashiered some of his own protégés.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• captaincy 
• captainship 
• care 
• coaching www.thesaurus.com
• direction 
• encouragement 
• guardianship 
• guidance 
• initiative 
• lead 
• navigation 
• overseeing www.thesaurus.com
• pilotage 
• piloting 
• steering 
• stewardship 
• superintendence www.thesaurus.com
• superintendency 
• supervision