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

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

“Rules of thumb don’t really apply to anyone,” said Jeanne Thompson, another retirement thought leader I consulted.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 9, 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

Stanford especially, as the emblem of what the “student-athlete” experience should be, could have stepped forward as a thought leader and said enough is enough.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 1, 2023