ˈlēdə(r)ˌship noun
1. : the office or position of a leader
forced from the leadership by younger men — Collier's Year Book
could not have maintained that leadership without her reputation for fair play — Lewis Galantiere
assumed leadership of the opposition
2.
a. : the quality of a leader : capacity to lead
could not fail to perceive that there was no leadership in him — S.H.Adams
leadership is that ingredient of personality which causes men to follow — H.S.Gilbertson
only a few people possess the quality of leadership — J.A.Schumpeter
b. : the act or an instance of leading
the essence of leadership is the successful resolution of problems — Dean Acheson
true leadership … is enlightenment and exhortation — Max Eastman
fought bravely under his leadership
leadership molds individuals into a team — Harold Koontz & Cyril O'Donnell
c. : a group of persons who lead
a leadership is one of the major functional divisions to be found in all groups — H.D.Lasswell & Abraham Kaplan
the party leadership ignored the dispute — Frank Tollman
recruit youth leadership in the conduct of recreation activity — Springfield (Massachusetts) Union