Dictionary

ringleader en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈɹɪŋˌliːdəɹ/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From ring + leader.

Meanings

1. A leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group.
   • Once, on a confident whim, I approached the group of popular girls in an attempt to broaden my circle. Their ringleader took one glance at my new Aeropostale T-shirt and whispered to her clones, “Yeah, Aero's definitely out now.” 2017, Allyson Kennedy, Can't Beat the Heart of a Carolina Girl:
2. A person who starts and leads a disturbance (such as a riot), a conspiracy, or a criminal gang.
   • The police arrested the ringleaders of the smuggling operation.
   • A sort of naughty persons, lewdly bent, / Under the countenance and confederacy / Of Lady Eleanor, the protector's wife, / The ringleader and head of all this rout, / Have practis'd dangerously against your state... 1590, William Shakespeare, King Henry VI, Part 2:
   • The ringleaders of the gang were eventually hanged at Tyburn. 1980, AA Book of British Villages, Drive Publications Ltd, page 203:

Forms

Deriveds

ringleadership

Translations (60)

be павады́р (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · uk проводи́р (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · fi johtaja (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · uk повода́р (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · pl herszt (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · ja 首謀者 (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · ru зачи́нщик (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · tl malahakan (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · ru вожа́к (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · uk ватажко́ (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · gv ard-veereiltagh (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · uk ватажо́к (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · de Anführerin (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · uk поводи́р (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · la concitor (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · uk приві́дець (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · de Rädelsführer (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · pl prowodyr (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · uk вата́г (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · de Anführer (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · hu bandavezér (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · fr chef (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · nl raddraaier (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · pl wodzirej (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · fi päätekijä (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · hu vezető (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · uk вожа́к (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · ru верхово́д (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · sv anstiftare (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · fr leader (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · de Rädelsführerin (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · uk верхово́д (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · fr meneur (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · pl wodzirejka (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · be важа́к (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · be завада́тар (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · uk верхово́да (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · pl wodzirej (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · be верхаво́д (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · fr leader (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · fr chef (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · ru глава́рь (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · fi johtaja (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · pl prowodyr (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · fi ryhmänjohtaja (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · uk вожа́й (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · es cabecilla (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · pl prowodyrka (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · uk провода́р (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · eu taldeburu (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · hu vezér (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · eu buruzagi (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · bg та́ртор (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · pl wodzirejka (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · bg главата́р (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · hu főkolompos (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · ru зачи́нщица (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · fr meneur (person who starts and leads a disturbance, a conspiracy, or a criminal gang) · eu gidari (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group) · pl prowodyrka (leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group)