cheerleader

noun

cheer·​lead·​er ˈchir-ˌlē-dər 

: one that calls for and directs organized cheering (as at a football game)

cheerlead

ˈchir-ˌlēd 

verb, transitive + intransitive

cheerleading

ˈchir-ˌlē-diŋ 

noun

Examples of cheerleader in a Sentence

a politician who is a cheerleader for the government's new economic plan

Recent Examples on the Web

Shortly after the former cheerleader, 24, placed third at the statewide event — coming in behind winner Shelby Howell and runner-up Mara Carpenter — a source tells PEOPLE that Hudson could very well return to the competition in the future. —Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 14 May 2025

Watching from the sidelines is Liberty Global, ITV’s biggest shareholder with a 9.9% stake, which has long been a cheerleader for a sale. —Max Goldbart, Deadline, 14 May 2025

His 24-year-old girlfriend is a former cheerleader and current pageant contender. —Glamour, 12 May 2025

There are still cheerleaders who say H.W. and Clinton’s top-tax-rate increases underlay the 1990s boom and budget surpluses. —Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 10 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1896, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cheerleader

• proofreader
• ringleader
• bleeder
• breeder
• feeder
• leader
• lieder
• meader
• pleader
• reader
• reeder
• seeder

Kids Definition

cheerleader

noun

cheer·​lead·​er ˈchi(ə)r-ˌlēd-ər 

: a person who leads organized cheering (as at a football or basketball game)

cheerlead

-ˌlēd 

verb

cheerleading

-ˌlē-diŋ 

noun