1
: an allowable margin of freedom or variation : tolerance
The new rules allow managers greater leeway in making decisions.
2
a
: off-course lateral movement of a ship when underway
The sailboat's centerboard helps to reduce leeway.
b
: the angle between the heading and the track of an airplane
Examples of leeway in a Sentence
They give their students leeway to try new things.
you will be given some leeway in choosing how to carry out the project
Recent Examples on the Web
That leeway is what's keeping the government together for the moment, said Tzippy Yarom-Diskind, a correspondent for the Haredi newspaper Mishpacha.
—
Loveday Morris The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 30 Mar. 2024
That leeway is what’s keeping the government together for the moment, said Tzippy Yarom-Diskind, a correspondent for the Haredi newspaper Mishpacha.
—Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Automakers will have more leeway in choosing how to reach the government’s new tailpipe emissions goals, thanks to changes made between when the rules were first introduced in draft form nearly a year ago and now.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
The list of old-wood bloomers includes lilacs, viburnums and forsythia.
Shrubs that bloom on new wood offer the gardener more pruning leeway.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2024
Higher productivity means there's now more leeway for wage growth to stay elevated without igniting inflation.
—Paul Wiseman, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024
Yet higher productivity has changed that equation: There’s now more leeway for wage growth to stay elevated without igniting inflation.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 21 Feb. 2024
Athletic tights are stretchy, which can give you some leeway with size, but wearing a too-small pair can be uncomfortable and potentially restrict movement.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024
Crossing over to Canada to work with Page on his home turf, the director’s technique once again gives his star ample leeway to explore himself on screen, in the process capturing something that feels truthful, however fictionally constructed.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
Loveday Morris The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 30 Mar. 2024
That leeway is what’s keeping the government together for the moment, said Tzippy Yarom-Diskind, a correspondent for the Haredi newspaper Mishpacha.
—Loveday Morris, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
Automakers will have more leeway in choosing how to reach the government’s new tailpipe emissions goals, thanks to changes made between when the rules were first introduced in draft form nearly a year ago and now.
—Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 25 Mar. 2024
The list of old-wood bloomers includes lilacs, viburnums and forsythia.
Shrubs that bloom on new wood offer the gardener more pruning leeway.
—Paul Cappiello, The Courier-Journal, 15 Mar. 2024
Higher productivity means there's now more leeway for wage growth to stay elevated without igniting inflation.
—Paul Wiseman, Quartz, 21 Feb. 2024
Yet higher productivity has changed that equation: There’s now more leeway for wage growth to stay elevated without igniting inflation.
—Paul Wiseman, Fortune, 21 Feb. 2024
Athletic tights are stretchy, which can give you some leeway with size, but wearing a too-small pair can be uncomfortable and potentially restrict movement.
—Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 16 Feb. 2024
Crossing over to Canada to work with Page on his home turf, the director’s technique once again gives his star ample leeway to explore himself on screen, in the process capturing something that feels truthful, however fictionally constructed.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leeway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Leeway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leeway. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
leeway
noun
lee·way
ˈlē-ˌwā 
1
: sideways movement of a ship when under way
2
: an extra amount (as of room or time) that allows some freedom or variation
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