cheerleader

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

Examples of cheerleader in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web

The first few floats will be from the Fort Worth Police Mounted Patrol, GM Financial and Arlington Heights High School band and the Stingerettes dance team and cheerleaders. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Nov. 2025

In Hawkins, cheerleader Chrissy Cunningham (Grace Van Dien) begins having disturbing visions and starts seeing and hearing a grandfather clock. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 19 Nov. 2025

Charlotte’s cheerleaders and mascot are admitted free if in uniform. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 19 Nov. 2025

Criminal charges may be filed against a stepsibling of 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a Florida high school cheerleader found dead aboard a Carnival cruise ship earlier this month, a new court filing suggests. —Cristian Benavides, CBS News, 18 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cheerleader

• proofreader
• ringleader
• bleeder
• breeder
• feeder
• leader
• lieder
• meader
• pleader
• reader
• reeder
• seeder

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