Word
ringleader
Phoneticsring·leader
US/ˈɹɪŋˌɫidɝ/
UK/ɹˈɪŋɡliːdɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. the main person who plans and leads a group doing something bad or illegal. You use it for crimes, scams, or trouble, not for normal teams at work or school.
n. the person who organizes and directs a group engaged in illicit, disruptive, or oppositional activity. Implies active planning and control, with a strongly negative connotation distinguishing it from neutral 'leader'.
Examples
“The police arrest the ringleader of the theft group.”
“After weeks of playground fights, the teacher speaks to the ringleader and asks him to stop encouraging the others.”
“Although several members faced charges, prosecutors focused on the ringleader whose messages showed he had recruited the others and planned every step of the fraud.”
Examples
simple
“The police arrest the ringleader of the theft group.”
contextual
“After weeks of playground fights, the teacher speaks to the ringleader and asks him to stop encouraging the others.”
complex
“Although several members faced charges, prosecutors focused on the ringleader whose messages showed he had recruited the others and planned every step of the fraud.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ringleader” in context.
Verb
01. act as ringleader
“He acted as ringleader, planning the robbery and recruiting others.”
verb + prep + noun
02. arrest ringleader
“Police finally arrested the ringleader after a six-month investigation.”
verb + noun
03. convict ringleader
“The court convicted the ringleader and three other gang members.”
verb + noun
04. identify ringleader
“Detectives worked quickly to identify the ringleader of the fraud.”
verb + noun
05. jail ringleader
“The judge decided to jail the ringleader for ten years.”
verb + noun
Adjective
06. alleged ringleader
“Police arrested the alleged ringleader of the phone scam yesterday.”
adj + noun
07. convicted ringleader
“The convicted ringleader was sentenced to eight years in prison.”
adj + noun
08. notorious ringleader
“He was known as the notorious ringleader behind several bank robberies.”
adj + noun
Noun
09. hunt for ringleader
“Police launched a nationwide hunt for the ringleader.”
noun + prep + noun
10. arrest the suspected ringleader
“Police arrested the suspected ringleader at the airport on Friday.”
11. face charges as ringleader
“He will face charges as ringleader of the smuggling operation.”
12. hunt for the ringleader
“Police have launched a hunt for the ringleader of the gang.”
Usage
Commonly followed by 'of' plus a noun phrase naming the group or offence.
Real-World Examples
“Prosecutors argued that although Davis did not fire the gun himself, he was the ringleader of the group that committed the murder.” “The BBC's Politics Investigations Correspondent, Billy Kenber, joined members of the Home Office Immigration Enforcement team as they looked to arrest the group's suspected ringleaders on Tuesday morning.” “In November last year, the girlfriend of the alleged ringleader, Jesús Gerardo (alias "El Kekas"), was sentenced in a separate trial to 20 years in prison.” “David Warner, considered the ringleader, was suspended for 12 months and stripped of all leadership roles, while Cameron Bancroft was slapped with a nine-month ban.” Etymology
From ring + leader.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- 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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