liidrid

Liidrid is the Estonian plural noun meaning "leaders" or "leading figures." The singular form liider refers to a person who leads or directs others. In use, liidrid denotes people who guide, coordinate, or influence a group, organization, or movement.

The term often conveys a sense of personal agency, leadership quality, or charisma, but its tone is neutral and context can add evaluative nuance. Liidrid can refer to formal leaders such as heads of state or company executives, as well as informal figures who mobilize supporters or shape strategy. In contrast, juhid or juhtkond more frequently describe formal organizational leadership, while liider emphasizes vision and influence.

Examples of usage include political, corporate, and social contexts. A phrase such as "riigi liidrid" can denote the leaders of a country, while "ettevõtte liidrid" refers to leaders within a business. In social movements, liidrid are the individuals who articulate goals and coordinate collective action. The term is common in discussions of leadership, influence networks, and strategic direction, and it can carry positive, critical, or neutral connotations depending on the surrounding discourse.

See also: liiderlus (leadership), juhid (leaders), juhtkond (management/leadership team).