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

Netanyahu has long sought to decapitate the Iranian leadership, but Trump at the time insisted on negotiations. — Chad De Guzman, Time, 19 Oct. 2026

For decades, Florida lawmakers have demanded investigations, indictments and imprisonment for the Cuban leadership involved. — Liv Caputo Herald, Miami Herald, 19 Oct. 2026

The problem for Weiss and the new leadership is that the US’ relationship with Israel and Israel’s military actions in the Middle East seems increasingly poised to dominate electoral politics in the coming years. — semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Cardenas is a leadership coach and organizational development consultant. — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Oct. 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