leader of the opposition

noun phrase

: the principal member of the opposition party in a British legislative body who is given the status of a salaried government official and an important role in organizing the business of the house

Examples of leader of the opposition in a Sentence

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.
Ishiba, a straight-talking former defense minister, got 221 votes to 160 for Yoshihiko Noda, leader of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party. Arata Yamamoto, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024 In the lead-up to the 2004 presidential election in Ukraine, supporters of Viktor Yushchenko, then the leader of the opposition, used text messaging to organize the massive protests that became the Orange Revolution. Ian Bremmer, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2010 Only Shyne, now the leader of the opposition in the Belize House of Representatives, did time for the incident. Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024 As a leader of the opposition to these despots, Sirleaf survived imprisonment, exile, and an abusive husband. Franklin Foer, The Atlantic, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for leader of the opposition 

Word History

First Known Use

1771, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of leader of the opposition was in 1771

Dictionary Entries Near leader of the opposition

Cite this Entry

“Leader of the opposition.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leader%20of%20the%20opposition. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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!