The leading term of a nonzero polynomial, relative to a specified monomial order, is its leading monomial together with its coefficient. Thus
 |
where 
is the leading monomial and 
is the leading coefficient.
For example, for 
over 
with lexicographic
order 
,
the leading term is 
,
while the leading monomial is 
. For a monic polynomial,
the leading term and leading monomial coincide.
The monomial order determines the word "leading," which need not mean highest total degree. For example,
is the leading term of 
in lexicographic
order with 
.
In the univariate polynomial case with the
usual order by degree, the leading term of 
is 
when 
.
