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.
But the Democratic leadership is demanding an immediate extension to soon-to-expire Obamacare subsidies for their votes, saying Americans face a sharp rise in health care costs without them. Shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025 Moya said additional training that focuses on strengthening leadership skills and cultural awareness will also be implemented for Experience Fayetteville. Arkansas Online, 30 Sep. 2025 He is remembered for decisive leadership during the closing months of World War II, the beginning of the Cold War, and the implementation of the Marshall Plan. Monty Davis, Kansas City Star, 30 Sep. 2025 As Canucks decision makers get down to brass tacks and hold high-level meetings with hockey operations leadership and the coaching staff this week, that’s the tenor of the discussion that now surrounds Vancouver’s 2025 first-round pick. Thomas Drance, New York Times, 30 Sep. 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 5 Oct. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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