Referring illustratively to the debate on industrial policy between "thought leaders," . . . Yankelovitch says that below the level of media rhetoric, "one can detect a core of agreement emerging because the different parties are influencing one another."

Google, Yahoo, and eBay are the leaders in the online world. Apple is the thought leader in music.

In seeking readers and advertisers, publications like The Atlantic and The Economist, known as thought-leader magazines, have long tried to make up in cleverness what they lack in wallet power.

The UK needs to be a thought leader on road safety, added Oldham, "so we can influence Europe."

Thought leader

Meaning

Noun