ENGLISH
REFERENCE

leadership

n.
US //ˈɫidɝˌʃɪp// UK //lˈiːdəʃˌɪp// lead·er·ship
  1. 1 ability to lead (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the skill or quality of being able to guide and inspire other people.

    the abstract capacity or quality of an individual to guide, influence, or inspire others within a group or organisation.

    Example

    The team succeeded because of her strong leadership during the crisis.

    Example

    Effective leadership requires a delicate balance between decisive action and the ability to listen to the concerns of subordinates.

    • followership
  2. 2 a group of leaders (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the group of people who are in charge of a company, party, or country.

    a collective noun referring to the body of individuals who hold the highest positions of authority in an organisation.

    Example

    The party leadership met today to discuss the new policy changes.

    Example

    The corporate leadership faced intense scrutiny from shareholders after the quarterly earnings fell significantly below market expectations.

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  1. 3 position or period of being a leader (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    the position of being a leader, or the time when someone is in charge.

    the formal office, status, or tenure of a leader.

    Example

    Under his leadership, the school became one of the best in the city.

    Example

    The country experienced significant economic growth during her ten-year leadership, largely due to her focus on international trade agreements.

Origin

From leader + -ship.

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