cheerleader

noun

cheer·​lead·​er ˈchir-ˌlē-dər How to pronounce cheerleader (audio)
: one that calls for and directs organized cheering (as at a football game)
cheerlead verb, transitive + intransitive
cheerleading noun

Examples of cheerleader in a Sentence

a politician who is a cheerleader for the government's new economic plan
Recent Examples on the Web His character eventually wins the heart of a popular cheerleader played by Amanda Peterson, but there's no doubt Dempsey looked just as adorable before his on-screen overhaul. Zoey Lyttle, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023 The family said the shooting left the teen, a cheerleader at Lincoln High School, paralyzed from the waist down. David Hernandez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Nov. 2023 The Roosevelt High cheerleaders and the team mascot mascot arrive at Weingart Stadium. J. Emilio Flores, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2023 Musk has been a longtime cheerleader of memecoins, including Dogecoin. Chris Morris, Fortune, 27 Oct. 2023 Guthrie and Hager wrapped up the segment as Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders and performed a brief routine alongside members of the famed dance crew. 19 of 20 Today Show Halloween Costumes in 2022 What happens in Vegas ... comes to Rockefeller Plaza! Jocelyn Vena, Peoplemag, 31 Oct. 2023 Justine Lindsay, the NFL's first cheerleader to identify as transgender, reflected on the first year of cheerleading with the Carolina TopCats, the cheerleading squad of the Carolina Panthers. Heather Hunter, Washington Examiner, 26 Oct. 2023 And, if Donald Trump, perhaps America’s most notable Putin cheerleader, somehow wins that election, well, then the matter of military assistance for Ukraine will be only one of many five-alarm crises to deal with. Susan B. Glasser, The New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2023 In addition to his family, she’s certainly been his biggest cheerleader as Lyles has exploded into stardom on the field and off. Victoria Uwumarogie, Essence, 9 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'cheerleader.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cheerleader was in 1896

Dictionary Entries Near cheerleader

Cite this Entry

“Cheerleader.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cheerleader. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

cheerleader

noun
cheer·​lead·​er ˈchi(ə)r-ˌlēd-ər How to pronounce cheerleader (audio)
: a person who leads organized cheering (as at a football or basketball game)
cheerlead verb
cheerleading noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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