leeway

UK: /ˈliːweɪ/ US: /ˈliˌweɪ/ ,(lē′wā′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

lee•way /ˈliˌweɪ/   n. [uncountable]

1. extra time, space, materials, etc., within which to act:
   a leeway of two weeks.
2. a degree of freedom of action or thought:
   plenty of leeway to make a choice.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

lee•way  (lē′wā′), n. 

1. extra time, space, materials, or the like, within which to operate;
   margin:
   With ten minutes' leeway we can catch the train.
2. a degree of freedom of action or thought:
   His instructions gave us plenty of leeway.
3. Nautical, Naval Terms Also called sag. the amount or angle of the drift of a ship to leeward from its heading.
4. Aeronautics the amount a plane is blown off its normal course by cross winds.

• lee¹ + way 1660–70

Synonyms

• 2. . latitude, flexibility, cushion.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

leeway / ˈliːˌweɪ/ noun

1. room for free movement within limits, as in action or expenditure
2. sideways drift of a boat or aircraft