Leeway refers to a degree of freedom or tolerance in a situation. It can mean allowing someone to have some room for maneuver, flexibility or discretion in how they approach something. For example, if you give someone leeway on a deadline, it means that you are giving them more time than originally planned to complete the task. The term is also used when referring to a margin of error or tolerance, as in "giving someone leeway" can mean allowing for some mistakes or imperfections without consequences.