Another Word for Leader: 14 Synonyms with Examples
A leader is a person who leads or controls a group, or someone or something that is ahead of others. Swap it to suggest the kind of authority involved.
As a noun: a person in charge
- head
- chief
- director
- manager
- boss
- captain
- commander
- ruler
As a noun: someone ahead of others
- front-runner
- pioneer
- trailblazer
- frontrunner
- innovator
- pacesetter
Need a different word?Look up any word in the synonym finder →
How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- head
- The person in charge of a school, department or organisation.
- chief
- The most senior person, often in a title: "chief executive".
- manager
- Someone who runs part of a business day to day.
- boss
- Informal; the person you work for.
- captain
- The leader of a sports team or ship.
- pioneer
- One of the first to do something new.
Example sentences
- head: She was appointed head of the science department.
- chief: The police chief promised a full investigation.
- manager: Ask the manager if you'd like a refund.
- boss: My boss let me leave early on Friday.
- captain: The captain lifted the trophy in front of the fans.
- pioneer: He was a pioneer of keyhole surgery.
Opposite of leader
- follower
- supporter
- subordinate
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “leader”?
The most useful alternatives are “head”, “chief”, “director”, “manager”, “boss”. For the main sense (a person in charge), “head” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “head” and “chief”?
head: The person in charge of a school, department or organisation. chief: The most senior person, often in a title: "chief executive".
What is the opposite of “leader”?
Common antonyms are “follower”, “supporter”, “subordinate”.