Word
leeway
Phoneticslee·way, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɫiˌweɪ/
UK/lˈiːweɪ/
Definition
n. the amount of freedom or flexibility you have to make your own choices. It is the space between what you must do and what you can do.
n. the amount of freedom or flexibility allowed in a situation; the margin between a requirement and the actual performance.
Examples
“I need more leeway to finish the project on time.”
“The manager gave the team some leeway to choose their own travel dates as long as they met the deadline.”
“While the contract provides a strict framework for daily operations, it leaves significant leeway for the creative director to experiment with new marketing strategies.”
Examples
simple
“I need more leeway to finish the project on time.”
contextual
“The manager gave the team some leeway to choose their own travel dates as long as they met the deadline.”
complex
“While the contract provides a strict framework for daily operations, it leaves significant leeway for the creative director to experiment with new marketing strategies.”
Etymology
From lee (“side away from the wind”) + way.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/leeway