cheerleader

1 of 2

noun

cheer·​lead·​er ˈchir-ˌlē-dər 

: one that calls for and directs organized cheering (as at a football game)

cheerlead

ˈchir-ˌlēd 

verb, transitive + intransitive

cheerleading

ˈchir-ˌlē-diŋ 

noun

cheerlead

2 of 2

verb, transitive + intransitive

cheer·​lead ˈchir-ˌlēd 

cheerleaded also cheerled ˈchir-ˌled  ; cheerleading; cheerleads

1

intransitive : to call for and direct organized cheering (as at a football game)

Only in its second year of existence, the Jr. Hurricanes cheerlead at football games played by elementary and middle school boys.

—Robert Storace, New Britain (Connecticut) Herald, 19 Nov. 2012

2

transitive + intransitive : to express enthusiastic support for something or someone in an effort to gain support from others

The senate Hatch bill to create a national asbestos victim trust fund is being cheerleaded by Vice President Dick Cheney.

—Marshfield News (Wisconsin), 11 Feb. 2006

She would eventually cheerlead for the filmmakers who became her friends, involve herself in casting decisions, rhapsodically review "Nashville" months before it was finished …

—Janet Maslin, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2011

Examples of cheerleader in a Sentence

Noun

a politician who is a cheerleader for the government's new economic plan

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In addition, nearly 30 TCU cheerleaders will also take part in the production in a storyline surrounding Michelle Randolph’s character Ainsley Norris. — Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026

The result was 107 toys delivered to young patients at Advocate Children’s Hospital in Oak Lawn by cheerleaders and coaching staff. — Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 1 Oct. 2026

And Cruise often served as a cheerleader for the rest of the cast. — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 30 Sep. 2026

Griffin has been one of the region’s biggest cheerleaders since moving Citadel’s headquarters from Chicago to Miami in 2022. — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 30 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb, transitive + intransitive

back-formation from cheerleader

First Known Use

Noun

1896, in the meaning defined above

Verb, Transitive + Intransitive

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

cheerleader

noun

cheer·​lead·​er ˈchi(ə)r-ˌlēd-ər 

: a person who leads organized cheering (as at a football or basketball game)

cheerlead

-ˌlēd 

verb

cheerleading

-ˌlē-diŋ 

noun