leading light

American  

[lee-ding] / ˈli dɪŋ /

noun

1. an important or influential person.

   a leading light of the community.

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leading light British  

/ ˈliːdɪŋ /

noun

1. an important or outstanding person, esp in an organization or cause

2. nautical a less common term for range light

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leading light Idioms  

1. An important or influential individual, as in Jim was a leading light in his community. This expression, alluding to moral guidance, dates from about 1870, but terms such as a shining light have been used for an outstanding person since the first half of the 1500s.

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Etymology

Origin of leading light

First recorded in 1870–75

Example Sentences

But for now, Nebius is the leading light.

From Barron's • Mar. 31, 2026

But after settling in Manhattan in 1918, she quickly became a leading light in American modernism—and fell in love with skyscrapers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 8, 2025

That’s underscored by Bapcor signaling it has lost market share in its Trade business, which was previously the leading light among its operations.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

The five-piece is a leading light in the wave of young regional Mexican music to blow up TikTok and the Billboard charts.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2023

And Boyle was a leading light in establishing the scientific method in England.

From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin