leader
n. countablen. the person who is in charge of a group, organization, or country. This person makes decisions and guides others toward a goal.
n. the person who commands or guides a group, organization, or country. Often used to denote the individual at the head of a political party or a competitive field.
She is a natural leader who listens to everyone in the team.
The community looked to the local leader for guidance after the storm damaged several homes.
Effective governance requires a leader who can balance immediate political pressures with the long-term strategic interests of the nation.
From Middle English leder, ledere, from Old English lǣdere (“leader”), from Proto-West Germanic *laidijārī (“leader”), equivalent to lead + -er. Cognate with Scots ledar, leidar (“leader”), West Frisian lieder (“leader”), Dutch leider (“leader”), German Leiter (“leader, conductor, manager”), Danish leder (“leader, manager”), Swedish ledare (“leader, conductor, director”), Icelandic leiðari (“leader, conductor”).
Commonly followed by the preposition 'of' to indicate the group being led.