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

Fans were seen in the crowd cheering Clarkson on, as actual cheerleaders from the four playing teams danced along to her famous powerhouse vocals. —Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 26 Dec. 2025

Sophomore Jace Simmons belongs to both the marching band and cheerleader squad. —Nashville Tennessean, 26 Dec. 2025

Fraizer's family says the Georgia Rattlers cheerleader is full of energy. —Daniel Wilkerson, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

Florida cheerleader found dead on Carnival cruise ship Last month, 18-year-old Anna Kepner, a Florida high school senior, was found dead inside her family’s cabin aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 20 Dec. 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