leadership

noun

lead·​er·​ship ˈlē-dər-ˌship 

1

: the office or position of a leader

recently assumed the leadership of the company

2

: capacity to lead

a politician who lacks leadership

3

: the act or an instance of leading

… leadership molds individuals into a team …

—Harold Koontz and Cyril O'Donnell

4

: leaders

the party leadership

Examples of leadership in a Sentence

a politician who lacks leadership

What this country needs is the exercise of strong leadership!

Recent Examples on the Web

Last week, House leadership canceled a vote for the Student Compensation and Opportunity through Rights and Endorsements Act (SCORE Act) as Congress once again showed why the NCAA, conferences and universities shouldn’t gamble on politicians solving their legal problems. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 9 Dec. 2025

This ambitious agenda puts the spotlight on the country’s sports diplomacy, in which athletic endeavors serve as an arena for gaining influence, cultivating international leadership, interacting with foreign audiences, and facilitating conversations that can lead to better understandings. —Time, 9 Dec. 2025

The United States still has a window of opportunity to reaffirm its value proposition and align the world with its leadership. —Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 9 Dec. 2025

These leadership changes come as legendary investor Warren Buffett prepares to step down as CEO at the end of the year. —Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing leadership

• under someone's leadership

Rhymes for leadership

• authorship
• battleship
• censorship
• chairmanship
• chieftainship
• comradeship
• consulship
• craftsmanship
• dealership
• draftsmanship
• fellowship
• fingertip