lek

1 of 2

noun (1)

ˈlek 

: an assembly area where animals (such as the prairie chicken) carry on display and courtship behavior

also : an aggregation of animals assembled on a lek for courtship

lek

2 of 2

noun (2)

ˈlek 

plural lekë ˈle-kə  or leks also leku ˈle-kü 

: the basic monetary unit of Albania see Money Table

Examples of lek in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

According to the National Audubon Society, male sage grouse perform courtship displays on communal breeding grounds called leks — fanning their tails, inflating air sacs and producing popping sounds to attract females. —Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 Apr. 2026

An indicator species under pressure The stakes extend well beyond one lek. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026

However, encroaching trees near traditional leks bode ill for the grouse. —Andrew Weeks, Twin Cities, 10 Apr. 2026

For theropod dinosaurs around 100 million years ago, the answer was probably a lek. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2025

And there are only seven remaining leks in the national park. —Bronwyn Thompson, New Atlas, 14 May 2025

The birds are sensitive to noise, human presence and other disturbances, especially on their leks. —Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Swedish, short for lekställe mating ground, from lek mating, sport + ställe place

Noun (2)

Albanian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1871, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1927, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lek

• beck
• breck
• check
• cheque
• czech
• deck
• fleck
• keck
• mech
• neck
• peck
• reck

Kids Definition

lek

noun

ˈlek

: an area where animals (as the prairie chicken) assemble and carry on display and courtship behavior

also : a group of animals assembled in such an area

Geographical Definition

Lek

geographical name

ˈlek 

river 40 miles (64 kilometers) long in the Netherlands flowing west into the Atlantic

Note: The Lek is the northern branch of the lower Rhine River.