thought leader

[thawt lee-der]

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.

Other Word Forms

• thought leadership noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of thought leader¹

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Yes, Gay is an esteemed writer, thought leader and philanthropist, Woodson says, “but she is also out and funny and beyond brilliant. In all these ways, she’s showing young people that there are so many roads to becoming and living one’s true self.”

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What’s the real value in trying to become a “thought leader” with pieces like this?

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Tetraeder’s X account describes him as “Global Tetrahedron CEO, chairman, media proprietor, entrepreneur, human trafficker, thought leader, and venture capitalist.”

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Instead, she's a thought leader inside the GOP, despite the constant drumbeat of terrorism against people and schools she's targeted for being LGBTQ-friendly.

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He published a memoir, graduated from law school, and tried to establish himself as a conservative thought leader with a self-published book titled the Conservative Millennial Playbook.

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