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

Procurement may need to purchase cheaper materials, engineering may need to redesign it, manufacturing may need to change how it is produced or commercial leadership may need to lower the price. — Alessandro Lagi, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

That same year, Panettiere stood alongside Senator John Kerry for a joint press conference on Capitol Hill to urge the government for strong leadership in opposing commercial whaling and protecting marine life. — Tracy Wright, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Haden was a veteran prosecutor who held several leadership roles during his career, including that of first assistant attorney general for the Southern District, which is the second-in-command role. — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Having him as part of the leadership group is another positive development, after not being selected for a similar position under Thomas Frank and Ange Postecoglou. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026

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