English Reference

Word

cheerleading

Phoneticscheer·lead·ing

/ˈtʃɪɹˌɫidɪŋ/

Definition

n. a sport or activity where people dance, shout, and jump to support a team. It is very common at American football and basketball games.

n. an activity involving choreographed dance, gymnastics, and chanting to encourage a sports team or provide entertainment. Often associated with American scholastic and professional sports culture.

Examples

“She practices cheerleading every day after school.”

“The university offers scholarships for cheerleading to students who demonstrate elite athletic and gymnastic skills.”

“While once viewed merely as a sideline support activity, modern cheerleading is recognized as a highly competitive sport requiring significant physical strength, coordination, and precision.”

Examples

simple

“She practices cheerleading every day after school.”

contextual

“The university offers scholarships for cheerleading to students who demonstrate elite athletic and gymnastic skills.”

complex

“While once viewed merely as a sideline support activity, modern cheerleading is recognized as a highly competitive sport requiring significant physical strength, coordination, and precision.”

Usage

Typically used as an uncountable noun to describe the activity as a whole.

Real-World Examples

“She also noted that she knew of other nearby schools that had girls in wheelchairs who participated on cheerleading teams.”
The Conversation · 25 Sept 2026
“Knowles and Panettiere appeared in the third instalment in the Bring It On series of films that revolved around high school cheerleading, playing the characters Camille and Britney.”
BreakingNews.ie · 18 Aug 2026

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/cheerleading

English Reference