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 Moon enters Aries and your 10th House of Career, Reputation, and Responsibility, putting attention on your public role, work, leadership, or visible commitments. — Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Aug. 2026

By way of example, Italy’s right-wing government has attempted to reshape cultural institutions with new leadership, following Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s complaints that the sector has been dominated by the political left. — Devorah Lauter, ARTnews.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Officer Liban Ibrahim credited Kelly's leadership as officers continued arriving at the scene. — Susan-Elizabeth Littlefield, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026

Venezuela’s multitrillion-dollar oil industry has long stagnated under Maduro’s leadership and prior socialist governments. — Emily Hallas, The Washington Examiner, 28 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