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

And veteran leadership remains in place thanks to players like LaBonta, Sharples, Haley Hopkins and Cooper. —Pj Green april 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2026

Prepare to take on a leadership role. —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026

Chicago Public Schools’ second-in-command stepped down Friday, Mayor Brandon Johnson removed the Chicago Housing Authority board chair from his leadership position, and the mayor’s first chief homelessness officer exited his administration after two years. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026

After news broke last week that the striking WGAW staff would be booted off their health insurance plans effective April 1, a person with knowledge said that western executive director Stutzman has met with the staff union’s leadership twice since AMPTP talks began. —Dominic Patten, Deadline, 4 Apr. 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