Leader — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈlē-dər/ lead·er

Meaning & Definition of Leader

Leader (noun)

  1. a person or animal who leads
  2. someone who directs another's way, guide, conductor
  3. a person who directs a military force or unit

Leader (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. one that takes the lead or sets an example

    "an architectural firm that is widely regarded as a leader in innovative residential design"

    similar: bellwether, pacemaker, pacer, pacesetter, trendsetter
    related: foregoer, forerunner, harbinger, herald, precursor, groundbreaker, innovator, pioneer
    opposite: follower, imitator
    near: Johnny-come-lately, me-tooer

  2. the person (as an employer or supervisor) who tells people and especially workers what to do

    "the team leader is good at making sure that everyone keeps busy at their assigned tasks"

    similar: boss, boss man, captain, chief, foreman, head, headman, helmsman, honcho, jefe, kingpin, master, taskmaster
    related: directress, mistress, administrator, commander, director, executive, general, governor, hierarch, higher-up, leadman, manager, overseer, principal, skipper, standard-bearer, steward, straw boss, superintendent, superior, supervisor, dominator, lord, overlord, potentate, ruler, sovereign, figurehead, baron, czar, king, magnate, mogul, president, prince, big cheese, big gun, bigwig, top dog, top gun, cohead, coleader, employer, gaffer (British), ganger (British), micromanager, subchief, subdirector
    near: dependent, inferior, junior, secondary, subject, subordinate, underling

  3. a long hollow cylinder for carrying a substance (as a liquid or gas)

    "the leader funnels water off of the roof and down into the cistern"

    similar: channel, conduit, duct, line, penstock, pipe, trough, tube
    related: drain, drainpipe, funnel, hydrant, main, smokestack, spout, standpipe, stovepipe, tile, waste pipe, waterspout, pipage, pipeline, piping

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Leader

The most common words with a similar meaning to Leader:

bellwether, pacemaker, pacer, pacesetter, trendsetter, boss, boss man, captain, chief, foreman, head, headman, helmsman, honcho, jefe, kingpin, master, taskmaster, channel, conduit, duct, line, penstock, pipe, trough, tube

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Leader

Words with the opposite meaning of Leader:

follower, imitator

Related Words for Leader

foregoer, forerunner, harbinger, herald, precursor, groundbreaker, innovator, pioneer, directress, mistress, administrator, commander, director, executive, general, governor, hierarch, higher-up, leadman, manager, overseer, principal, skipper, standard-bearer, steward, straw boss, superintendent, superior, supervisor, dominator

Near Antonyms of Leader

Johnny-come-lately, me-tooer, dependent, inferior, junior, secondary, subject, subordinate, underling

Word Forms of Leader

Derived words: leaderless (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Leader

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Leader

Words & Phrases Containing Leader

leader of the opposition, floor leader, loss leader, majority leader, minority leader, squadron leader, born/natural leader, follow-the-leader

Frequently Asked Questions about Leader

What does "Leader" mean?

"Leader" means a person or animal who leads. As a noun, it is defined as: a person or animal who leads. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Leader"?

Other words for "Leader" include bellwether, pacemaker, pacer, pacesetter, trendsetter, boss, boss man and captain. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Leader" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Leader"?

There are 97 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Leader". Common alternatives include bellwether, pacemaker, pacer, pacesetter, trendsetter, boss, boss man, captain, chief and foreman.

What is the opposite of "Leader"?

Antonyms of "Leader" include follower and imitator. Near antonyms include Johnny-come-lately, me-tooer, dependent and inferior.

How do you use "Leader" in a sentence?

Examples of "Leader" in a sentence: "an architectural firm that is widely regarded as a leader in innovative residential design"; "the team leader is good at making sure that everyone keeps busy at their assigned tasks"; "the leader funnels water off of the roof and down into the cistern".

Is "Leader" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Leader" is a noun.

Is "Leader" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Leader" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Leader"?

"Leader" is pronounced /ˈlē-dər/ and divided into syllables as lead·er.