Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993.
leeway (n.)
retains its specialized nautical meaning, “off-course drifting caused by wind or current,” as in We were making a good deal of leeway because of the missing centerboard, but by far its most common meaning is the figurative “acceptable range for free movement,” “room,” as in They set us a goal but gave us a lot of leeway in deciding how to approach it. Both senses are Standard, although one dictionary still considers the figurative sense Colloquial.
