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

In all, England’s spearhead went for 61 off his allocation. —Paul Newman, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026

The Republicans vowed to continue making Texas a legal spearhead for red-state resistance to Democratic policies. —Philip Jankowski austin Bureau, Dallas Morning News, 3 Mar. 2026

Verb

These pioneering chemists from IQUEMA also spearheaded other astonishing, detailed archaeological initiatives that determined the compositions of old wine and aromas of the Roman Empire and of the mortars used in the Domus of Salvius, in the present case. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 12 Apr. 2026

The Artemis Program, an international collaboration spearheaded by NASA, aims to put boots back on the moon for the first time in more than 50 years. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2026

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