leading light

noun

: a prominent and influential member (as of a community or church)

Examples of leading light in a Sentence

He is one of the leading lights of the labor movement.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As the leading light of Scandinavian football, there is regional pressure to maintain their relative overperformance, but the freedom to operate outside the intense microscope their semi-final counterparts are subjected to has helped their evolution. Elias Burke, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2025 Other high-profile ties include a Madrid derby, with Real and Atletico meeting over two legs, and a heavyweight clash between Germany’s leading lights Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. James McNicholas, The Athletic, 21 Feb. 2025 Both leading lights will contribute to the show’s book that’s written by Ed Curtis and Michael Harrison, who oversees the enterprise as director and producer. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 17 Mar. 2025 The existence of all these billion-dollar plus companies is a reminder that the future is being invented all the time, and in ways that run counter to how the leading lights of commerce see things today. John Tamny, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for leading light

Word History

First Known Use

1707, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leading light was in 1707

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Leading light.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leading%20light. Accessed 1 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

leading light

noun
: a prominent and influential member (as of a field of study or political movement)
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!