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Added 9 October 2026

leader

/ˈliː.də(ɹ)/ noun

In Latin: prīnceps, dux, ductor Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about leader at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A person who rules or guides or inspires others.
A featured article of merchandise sold at a loss in order to draw customers.

Origin

Inherited from Middle English ledere, from Old English lǣdere, from Proto-West Germanic *laidijārī, from *laidī (“leading, leadership”) + *-ārī, or from *laid (“leading”) + *-ārī. By surface analysis, lead + -er. Cognate with Scots leader (“leader”), West Frisian lieder (“leader”), Dutch leider (“leader”), German Leiter (“leader, conductor, manager”), Danish leder (“leader, manager”), Swedish ledare (“leader, conductor, director”), Icelandic leiðari (“leader, conductor”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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