A cheerleader is someone who leads organized cheering and chanting to support a sports team or boost school spirit. You'll see cheerleaders at football and basketball games, performing routines that combine shouting chants, doing acrobatic stunts, and dancing to energize the crowd and encourage their team.

Cheerleading started over a century ago when a University of Minnesota student jumped in front of the crowd during a football game and led them in coordinated cheers. What began as simple shouting has evolved into a demanding athletic activity requiring strength, coordination, and teamwork. Modern cheerleaders practice complex routines, build human pyramids, and perform flips and tosses that require serious training and trust among teammates.

The word also describes someone who enthusiastically supports any cause or person, not just at sporting events. If your friend constantly encourages and celebrates your achievements, you might call them your biggest cheerleader. A teacher who strongly advocates for better school funding is a cheerleader for education. In this sense, being a cheerleader means championing something you believe in and rallying others to support it, too.