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

The Twins hit the reset button, the Wild made big moves and Napheesa Collier sent a shot across the bow of WNBA leadership after another amazing season. —Anthony Bettin, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025

Charlotte inspires me because of its quiet resilience and its growing courage, especially among young people and communities of color who are stepping into leadership and reshaping what this city can be. —Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 23 Dec. 2025

Waggoner hopes that the union’s new leadership can help Newsom understand the situation differently. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025

Practical lessons from a year of building leadership frameworks, programs, and partnerships. —Charlotte Sharpe, Big Think, 23 Dec. 2025

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