leeway

[lee-wey] /ˈliˌweɪ/
noun
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.
Also called sag. Nautical. 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.
Origin
1660-70; lee1 + way
Synonyms
2. latitude, flexibility, cushion.
Examples from the web for leeway
  • Colleges and universities may have more leeway to interpret federal privacy law than their officials know.
  • Apple has a good amount of leeway to introduce in-house computer chips to its ecosystem.
  • But the government has a lot of leeway to screw it up.
  • Soldiers typically don't have much sartorial leeway.
  • People with a good track record have more leeway than authors of first books.
  • Apple says it will give publishers more leeway to set e-book prices.
  • Give writers more incentive and leeway to shill for the commercial sugar daddies without sacrificing narrative.
  • Restrictions are tighter on larger planes, while there is more leeway for regional jets and turboprops.
  • But his bitter and suspicious party colleagues are not giving him such leeway.
  • It gives you that split second of leeway to flow into a better position if you catch yourself going wrong.
British Dictionary definitions for leeway

leeway

/ˈliːˌweɪ/
noun
1.
room for free movement within limits, as in action or expenditure
2.
sideways drift of a boat or aircraft
Word Origin and History for leeway
n.

1660s, sideways drift of a ship caused by wind, from lee + way. Figurative meaning "extra space" is by 1835.