spearhead

1 of 2

noun

spear·​head ˈspir-ˌhed 

1

: the sharp-pointed head of a spear

2

: a leading element, force, or influence in an undertaking or development

spearhead

2 of 2

verb

spearheaded; spearheading; spearheads

transitive verb

: to serve as leader or leading element of

Synonyms of spearhead

Verb

• lead
• command

Examples of spearhead in a Sentence

Noun

Her book was the spearhead of the clean water movement.

Verb

She spearheaded the campaign for better schools.

The movement was spearheaded by the teachers' union.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Over the years, excavators have found around 280 artifacts in the lake, including 145 axes, 64 spearheads, eight swords and, most recently, four spears. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 17 Dec. 2025

So all these ideas coalesced, but the spearhead was the idea of faith. —Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Dec. 2025

Verb

Sherman was the subject of an investigation spearheaded by then-Johnson County Sheriff Calvin Hayden over unsubstantiated allegations of voter intimidation in 2022. —Ilana Arougheti, Kansas City Star, 19 Dec. 2025

Plagued by budget overages, the project also fell victim to a conservative revolt, spearheaded by the Heritage Foundation. —Colin Jones, New Yorker, 18 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1937, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spearhead

• abed
• ahead
• beachhead
• bedspread
• bedstead
• behead
• blackhead
• blockhead
• bloodshed
• bowhead
• breastfed
• bridgehead

Kids Definition

spearhead

1 of 2 noun

spear·​head -ˌhed 

1

: the head or point of a spear

2

: a person, thing, or group that is the leading force (as in a development or attack)

spearhead

2 of 2 verb

: to serve as leader of

spearhead a campaign for better schools