Leader avoiding fresh hazard (4)
I believe the answer is:
risk
'hazard' is the definition.
(I know that hazard can be written as risk)
'leader avoiding fresh' is the wordplay.
'leader avoiding' means to remove the first letter.
'fresh' becomes 'brisk' (synonyms).
'brisk' with its first letter removed is 'RISK'.
(Other definitions for risk that I've seen before include "Expose to danger" , "Jeopardy" , "dangerous thing" , "The possibility of danger - chance it" , "Assessment of potential dangers -- any silk saris (anag)" .)