leadership

Pronunciation

• IPA: UK /ˈliː.də.ʃɪp/, US /ˈliː.dɚ.ʃɪp/^[1]

Etymology

It is a derivation, from English leader + -ship.^[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The position or office of a leader, command: 1821,^[2][3][4] especially of a political party.^[3]

Semantic evolution

By the late 19th century the sense had extended to the qualities needed in a leader, the capacity to lead.^[2] The leaders of a group or organization collectively, as in the party leadership, and guidance or direction are further modern senses.^[5][6]

Timeline

• 1821 – the position of a leader.^[2][3]
• late 19th century – the ability to lead.^[2]

Modern meaning

Noun

1. The position or office of a leader.
2. The ability to lead others.
3. The leaders of a group or organization.
4. Guidance or direction.

Related words

• leader
• lead

References

1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
2. ^ a b c d e Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
4. ^ Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
5. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin
6. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press