extra time, space, materials, or the like, within which to operate; margin

With ten minutes' leeway we can catch the train.

a degree of freedom of action or thought

His instructions gave us plenty of leeway.

Also called sag. Nautical . the amount or angle of the drift of a ship to leeward from its heading.

Aeronautics . the amount a plane is blown off its normal course by cross winds.

noun

elbow room * , extent , headway , latitude , margin , play , scope , space , elbowroom , clearance , cushion , drift , flexibility , room , tolerance