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

However, despite Roy often being a headache for House GOP leadership, many MAGA Republicans still recognize Roy as a conservative fighter. —Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 22 Mar. 2026

Use your bold energy to take action that others can see, then watch how support grows around your natural leadership. —Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 22 Mar. 2026

Pahlavi remains the most prominent figure among the various dissidents jockeying for a leadership role in a post-Islamic Republic Iran. —Azadeh Moaveni, New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2026

Iran’s fanatic Islamic political leadership team, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, were all killed. —Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 21 Mar. 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