leading edge

noun

ˈlē-diŋ- 

1

: the forward part of something that moves or seems to move

2

: the foremost edge of an airfoil

3

: cutting edge

leading-edge

ˈlē-diŋ-ˈej 

adjective

Synonyms of leading edge

• forefront

Examples of leading edge in a Sentence

the leading edge of an airplane's wing

the leading edge of a thunderstorm

Recent Examples on the Web

With moisture moving in from the Atlantic coast, national weather service Meteo France forecast light rain in the town of Lege-Cap Ferret, on a peninsula that's been a leading edge of the devastated region. — ABC News, 30 July 2026

Kids appear to be the leading edge of this shift, not just incidental beneficiaries of it. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 24 July 2026

The leading edge of the Saharan dust plume has already reached Florida, with the thickest concentrations expected to move west across the Gulf of Mexico. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 14 July 2026

Whether these cases are isolated incidents or the leading edge of something far more consequential is a question that law enforcement and researchers are only beginning to confront. — Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 7 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for leading edge

• allege
• straightedge
• dredge
• hedge
• ledge
• pledge
• sedge
• sledge
• wedge