leading light

noun

An acclaimed expert, one of the foremost experts, a luminary.

“Stephen Hawking is a leading light in physics, people say he's the greatest physicist since Einstein.”

Similar
luminaryguiding lightnotablenotability
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Meanings

nounleading light (plural leading lights)

plural leading lights

  1. idiomaticAn acclaimed expert, one of the foremost experts, a luminary.

    Stephen Hawking is a leading light in physics, people say he's the greatest physicist since Einstein.

  2. navigationnauticalA light that helps to guide vessels into a port.

Synonyms & antonyms

nouna celebrity who is an inspiration to others

Similar
luminaryguiding lightnotablenotability
Broader
celebrityfamous person
Also see
guiding lightluminarynotabilitynotable

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Māori matariki
  • matarikian acclaimed expert
Cite this entry
APA

leading light. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leading%20light

MLA

“leading light.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leading%20light. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “leading light,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/leading%20light.

Source: leading light on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.