thought leader

American  

[thawt lee-der] / ˈθɔt ˌli dər /

noun

1. a person or organization that is a recognized authority in a particular field and whose innovative ideas influence and guide others.

   He is a thought leader in education reform and his insights represent the latest thinking on the topic.

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Other Word Forms

• thought leadership
  noun

Etymology

Origin of thought leader

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

thought leader

Don’t expect every doctor to be a thought leader, or to know how to cure every disease you or your family members might have.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 3, 2026

Chief Executive Jeff Green became known as a charismatic industry thought leader, frequently commenting on Google’s digital-ad dominance and general ad-market trends in public appearances.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026

He sees himself as a thought leader and a visionary, and he really wanted that word removed.

From Slate ● Nov. 17, 2025

Instead, the high-profile African American thought leader will run as an independent.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 5, 2023

Mayor Karen Bass described convicted Councilmember Mark Ridley-Thomas as a champion of the city, a thought leader and “a policymaker who made a real impact.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 7, 2023