leadership

noun

lead·​er·​ship ˈlē-dər-ˌship 

1

: the office or position of a leader

recently assumed the leadership of the company

2

: capacity to lead

a politician who lacks leadership

3

: the act or an instance of leading

… leadership molds individuals into a team …

—Harold Koontz and Cyril O'Donnell

4

: leaders

the party leadership

Examples of leadership in a Sentence

a politician who lacks leadership

What this country needs is the exercise of strong leadership!

Recent Examples on the Web

Now, following intense backlash from local communities, a series of lawsuits and a leadership shakeup at the Department of Homeland Security, the agency appears to be abandoning the initiative – a dramatic shift away from a plan that had already seen spending upwards of $1 billion. — Christopher Cann, USA Today, 25 June 2026

Under her leadership, SMUD also added more than 1,430 megawatts of renewable and energy storage resources. — Sacbee.com, 24 June 2026

Without Bacon’s leadership, the movement fell apart, and by early 1677 Berkeley had regained control of the colony. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 June 2026

As Brodeur explains, there was a rule that awarded judging power to the leadership and management teams governing the pageants. — Tabitha Parent, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1765, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing leadership

• under someone's leadership

Rhymes for leadership

• authorship
• battleship
• censorship
• chairmanship
• chieftainship
• comradeship
• consulship
• craftsmanship
• dealership
• draftsmanship
• fellowship
• fingertip