bandleader

noun

band·​lead·​er ˈband-ˌlē-dər How to pronounce bandleader (audio)
: the conductor of a band (such as a dance band)

Examples of bandleader in a Sentence

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.
Horns blared and drummers played a rapid tattoo as the bandleaders swung their limbs with metric precision. Luis Melecio-Zambrano, Mercury News, 21 June 2026 Questlove’s stellar new documentary Earth, Wind & Fire (To Be Celestial vs That’s the Weight of the World) shines a long overdue spotlight on one of the greatest R&B/funk acts of all time, and the genius of bandleader Maurice White. Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 20 June 2026 That series, starring Lucille Ball in the title role with Desi Arnaz as her bandleader husband, with Vivian Vance and William Frawley as their best friends and neighbors, originally aired for six seasons on CBS, spanning 180 episodes, 30 minutes each, from 1951 to 1957. Philip Potempa, Chicago Tribune, 5 June 2026 It is directed by his longtime bandleader, Rob Arthur, and premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on Thursday. Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 5 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for bandleader

Word History

First Known Use

1869, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bandleader was in 1869

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Cite this Entry

“Bandleader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bandleader. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.

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