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

On her campaign website, Nieshalla states her leadership is rooted in faith, family, fiscal responsibility, and freedom. — Post-Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 2026

Post-Apple revival The boon in online advertising, and the hefty margins that come along with it, catapulted the two companies into leadership positions and brought their market caps into the trillions. — Ari Levy, CNBC, 1 Nov. 2026

Bloomfield is an emeritus professor of education leadership, law, and policy at Brooklyn College and the CUNY Graduate Center. — David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026

Rather than a months-long leadership transition, Chapek had been hastily handed the reins within weeks of Iger’s decision to step down. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 Nov. 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