leadership

noun

lead·​er·​ship ˈlē-dər-ˌship How to pronounce leadership (audio)
1
: the office or position of a leader
recently assumed the leadership of the company
2
: capacity to lead
a politician who lacks leadership
3
: the act or an instance of leading
leadership molds individuals into a teamHarold Koontz & Cyril O'Donnell
4
: leaders
the party leadership

Examples of leadership in a Sentence

a politician who lacks leadership What this country needs is the exercise of strong leadership!
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Zoelle is committed to innovative storytelling, complex characters, and inclusive production practices, assembling 50/50 teams and empowering women creatives in leadership roles. Rafa Sales Ross, Variety, 28 Oct. 2025 The constant tug-of-war among the parties has driven concerns among ACP leadership that a concentration of terminal operators at the canal-adjacent ports would pose risks to the waterway’s neutrality. Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 Oct. 2025 This year's Miss USA — and its little sister pageant, Miss Teen USA 2025 — were the first held under the leadership of new CEO Thom Brodeur. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025 Ricketts identifies herself on LinkedIn as the head of Turning Point Training and Development, a leadership organization based in Overland Park. Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leadership

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of leadership was in 1765

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Cite this Entry

“Leadership.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leadership. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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