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

The power struggle came about after Rivas challenged Rendon, capitalizing on Democrats’ frustrations over changes in committee leadership and Rendon’s shelving of a single-payer health care bill. —Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 22 Apr. 2026

The announcement also comes a week after the current district leadership team discussed potentially letting some staff members go. —Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026

The status of Chun's contract renewal has become a topic of uncertainty after a Fox News Digital investigative series into Yale's athletic department under her leadership. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 Apr. 2026

Iran’s political leadership has been at pains to dispel reports of infighting and to project a unified approach to the country’s military objectives and negotiating strategy. —Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 22 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