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Synonyms

leading edge

American  
[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

noun

  1. Aeronautics. the edge of an airfoil or propeller blade facing the direction of motion.

  2. something that is or represents the most advanced or innovative aspect of a field, activity, profession, etc.; forefront; vanguard.

    the leading edge of technology.
leading edge British  
/ ˈliːdɪŋ /

noun

  1. the forward edge of a propeller blade, aerofoil, or wing Compare trailing edge

  2. electrical engineering the part of a pulse signal that has an increasing amplitude

    1. the leading position in any field

    2. ( as modifier )

      leading-edge technology
"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

Other Word Forms

  • leading-edge adjective

Etymology

Origin of leading edge

First recorded in 1875–80

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.

Alberto Carvalho introduced “Ed” the AI chatbot amid fanfare in March 2024, touting a revolutionary tool that would put the district at the leading edge of school technology.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2026

The first chance offered was a leading edge that flew to deep third man, with Rashid unable to take the catch or flick the ball back inside the rope.

From BBC • Feb. 11, 2026

"It had been assumed that faults follow the leading edge of the subducting slab, but this example deviates from that," Materna said.

From Science Daily • Jan. 17, 2026

They worried about allowing American firms to sell Chinese customers chips that are at or near the leading edge in terms of computing capability.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

It took like half an hour for the leading edge of the storm to pass.

From "Flush" by Carl Hiaasen

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.