What is the name of scale degree 7 in a musical scale?

Scale degree 7 is referred to as the "Leading Tone." This term is used predominantly in the context of a major scale and its corresponding harmonic minor scale. The leading tone is a critical note because it is the seventh degree of the scale, and it has a strong tendency to resolve upwards to the tonic, which is the first scale degree. This tendency is what gives the leading tone its name and musical significance, as it helps to create tension and drive within a melody, leading the listener’s ear back to the tonic note.

In a major scale, the leading tone is a half step below the tonic, contributing to its function in establishing a sense of resolution and return in Western music. In contrast, the supertonic (degree 2), subdominant (degree 4), and tonic (degree 1) have different roles and placements within the scale structure, which is why they are not the correct answer for this specific question regarding scale degree 7.