lede

or lead

[ leed ]

noun

1. Journalism.
   1. a short summary serving as an introduction to a news story, article, or other copy.
   2. the main and often most important news story.

Word History and Origins

Origin of lede¹

First recorded in 1950–55; altered spelling of lead ¹( def ) (in the journalism sense “short introductory summary”), used in the printing trades to distinguish it from the homograph lead ²( def ) (in the sense “thin strip of type metal for increasing the space between lines of type”)

Example Sentences

The lede was ‘To Russia without love,’ and then I wrote a sidebar, ‘My One-Round Fight With Mike Tyson.’

From Seattle Times

While actors may not have been able to market the film due to the SAG-AFTRA strike, the promotion for the movie buried the real lede: the tainted history and shortcomings of Captain Marvel.

From Salon

So in that sense the vice president buried the lede.

From Salon

Affleck does not quite bury the lede so much as build to a conclusion that leaves audiences feeling elated.

From Salon

I have always wanted to write a headline or lede like that one.

From Salon