1
: an allowable margin of freedom or variation : tolerance
The new rules allow managers greater leeway in making decisions.
2
a
: off-course lateral movement of a ship when underway
The sailboat's centerboard helps to reduce leeway.
b
: the angle between the heading and the track of an airplane
Examples of leeway in a Sentence
They give their students leeway to try new things.
you will be given some leeway in choosing how to carry out the project
Recent Examples on the Web
But if Republicans win a majority of seats in that chamber, too, Trump will have enormous leeway to not only push his cabinet appointees through, but to also pass his legislative agenda.
—
Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump has outlined several broad themes that could affect the business of tech, including wider leeway for the cryptocurrency industry and skepticism of the Justice Department’s antitrust case seeking a possible breakup of Google.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
With an economy ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic, Biden had to carry out an economic rescue plan, giving him the leeway to implement massive stimulus bills and other sweeping policies to keep American households and businesses afloat.
—Rebecca Picciotto,annie Nova, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2024
While the attorney general is appointed by the president, their staff is given wide leeway to follow the law rather than the president’s dictates.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leeway 
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Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump has outlined several broad themes that could affect the business of tech, including wider leeway for the cryptocurrency industry and skepticism of the Justice Department’s antitrust case seeking a possible breakup of Google.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
With an economy ravaged by the Covid-19 pandemic, Biden had to carry out an economic rescue plan, giving him the leeway to implement massive stimulus bills and other sweeping policies to keep American households and businesses afloat.
—Rebecca Picciotto,annie Nova, CNBC, 2 Nov. 2024
While the attorney general is appointed by the president, their staff is given wide leeway to follow the law rather than the president’s dictates.
—Zack Beauchamp, Vox, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for leeway
Dictionary Entries Near leeway
Cite this Entry
“Leeway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leeway. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
leeway
noun
lee·way
ˈlē-ˌwā 
1
: sideways movement of a ship when under way
2
: an extra amount (as of room or time) that allows some freedom or variation
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