DictionaryAI

leadership

noun
USLEE-dur-ship/ˈlidɚʃɪp/UKLEE-duh-ship/ˈliːdəʃɪp/

Pluralleaderships (some meanings)

3 meanings of leadership

Practice

  1. 1
    ability to guidenoununcountable
    The action of leading and directing others, or the ability to do this well.

    Her calm leadership steadied the company through a difficult crisis.

    Effective leadership requires both a clear vision and the patience to listen.

    UsageOften with show, provide or lack: she showed strong leadership; the team lacked leadership.

    Similarguidance, direction, stewardship, command

  2. 2
    top positionnouncountable or uncountable
    The office or status held by someone who heads a group or organization.

    She rose to the leadership of the organization after years of service.

    His grip on the leadership weakened as rivals gained support.

    UsageUsually the leadership of a group; people take over, win or lose the leadership.

    Similarheadship, command

  3. 3
    people in chargenounusually singular
    The collective group of people who hold the leading positions in an organization or movement.

    The party's leadership announced sweeping reforms on Monday.

    Union members lost confidence in the leadership after the deal collapsed.

    Similarmanagement, executive, hierarchy

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of leadership apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

Formed from leader combined with the suffix -ship.

Checked 5 Nov 2026 · 1 fact