Word
spearhead
Phoneticsspear·head, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈspɪɹˌhɛd/
UK/spˈiəhɛd/
Definition
n. the person or thing that leads a movement or an attack. It is the most important part of a group that is doing something big.
n. the leading part of a movement, attack, or organization. Often used metaphorically to describe the person or entity that drives a particular initiative forward.
Examples
“She is the spearhead of the new environmental campaign.”
“The new CEO became the spearhead of the company's digital transformation, leading the charge into artificial intelligence.”
“As the spearhead of the diplomatic effort, the ambassador worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between the two nations before the summit began.”
Examples
simple
“She is the spearhead of the new environmental campaign.”
contextual
“The new CEO became the spearhead of the company's digital transformation, leading the charge into artificial intelligence.”
complex
“As the spearhead of the diplomatic effort, the ambassador worked tirelessly to bridge the gap between the two nations before the summit began.”
Real-World Examples
“Water-bearing Chinook helicopters flown in from the Netherlands were spearheading the effort.” “Mike German, a former FBI agent and civil liberties advocate , said it was striking that DHS was leading the investigations when typically the FBI would spearhead operations targeting potential “terrorist” activity.” Etymology
From Middle English spere-hed; equivalent to spear + head.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Domain
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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