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Ringleader

/ˈɹɪŋˌliːdəɹ/

A leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group.

Full Dictionary Entry

📖 Definitions of "Ringleader"

noun

1
A leader of a group of people, especially an unofficial group.
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."

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Ringleader"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
chiefnoun	The leader or head of a tribe, organisation, business unit, or other group.
leadershipnoun	The capacity of someone to lead others.
chieftainnoun	A leader of a clan or tribe.
leadernoun	Any person who leads or directs.
front-runnernoun	Alternative form of front runner. [(idiomatic) Any of the most likely winners in a contest, election, etc.]
cheerleadernoun	(chiefly US) A person, usually a young, attractive female, who encourages applause and cheers at a sports event, and wearing a specially-designed uniform in the official colors of the team he/she cheers for.
headnoun	(countable) The part of the body of an animal or human which contains the brain, mouth, and main sense organs.
chefnoun	The head cook of a restaurant or other establishment.
leadnoun	(uncountable) A heavy, pliable, inelastic metal element, having a bright, bluish color, but easily tarnished; both malleable and ductile, though with little tenacity. It is easily fusible, forms alloys with other metals, and is an ingredient of solder and type metal. Atomic number 82, symbol Pb (from Latin plumbum).
band leadernoun	Alternative form of bandleader. [A musician who conducts or leads a band of musicians.]
bandleadernoun	A musician who conducts or leads a band of musicians.
racketeernoun	One who commits crimes (especially fraud, bribery, loansharking, extortion etc.) to aid in running a shady or illegal business.
foreleadernoun	(dated) Someone who leads by example; a guide.
choregusnoun	The leader of a chorus in Ancient Greece
chargemannoun	A worker who is in charge; the leader.
ringernoun	(sports) A person highly proficient at a skill or sport who is brought in, often fraudulently, to supplement a team.
leadmannoun	The male leader of a group of workers, who reports to a supervisor.
leadswingernoun	Alternative form of lead swinger. [(derogatory) A person who "swings the lead"]
bell ringernoun	(education) An assignment, done regularly at the beginning of a class, and intended as a warm-up before other classroom activities.
conductornoun	(music) A person who conducts an orchestra, choir or other music ensemble; a professional whose occupation is conducting.