1
: an allowable margin of freedom or variation : tolerance
The new rules allow managers greater leeway in making decisions.
2
a
: off-course lateral movement of a ship when underway
The sailboat's centerboard helps to reduce leeway.
b
: the angle between the heading and the track of an airplane
Examples of leeway in a Sentence
They give their students leeway to try new things.
you will be given some leeway in choosing how to carry out the project
Recent Examples on the Web
So this year, officials changed the law to give local governments more leeway to do it themselves.
—
Ashley Southall, New York Times, 13 June 2024
Even if as a special prosecutor, he is given more leeway and latitude.
—Maryalice Parks, ABC News, 12 June 2024
The dynamic has changed, and the equal footing has given Einbinder more leeway to display her range.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2024
In fact, the proposal to allow asylum officers to make snap assessments gave the administration more leeway to process people through its border turnstile, without an adversarial interview with a judge.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for leeway 
Ashley Southall, New York Times, 13 June 2024
Even if as a special prosecutor, he is given more leeway and latitude.
—Maryalice Parks, ABC News, 12 June 2024
The dynamic has changed, and the equal footing has given Einbinder more leeway to display her range.
—Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 10 June 2024
In fact, the proposal to allow asylum officers to make snap assessments gave the administration more leeway to process people through its border turnstile, without an adversarial interview with a judge.
—The Editors, National Review, 5 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for leeway
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'leeway.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Leeway.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/leeway. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
leeway
noun
lee·way
ˈlē-ˌwā 
1
: sideways movement of a ship when under way
2
: an extra amount (as of room or time) that allows some freedom or variation
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