action figure

American  

noun

action figures plural

1. a toy figure with jointed, movable limbs, representing a character in a cartoon, movie, etc., or a real person or animal, often one known for exciting action or extraordinary powers.

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action figure British  

noun

1. a small figure of a character from a film, television programme, comic book etc, designed as a toy and often collected by enthusiasts

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• action figures
  plural

Etymology

Origin of action figure

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

action figure

New toy: Buzz Lightyear, an action figure convinced he’s a real space hero.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 17, 2026

Fail to buy the latest cuddly toy or collectable action figure and there will be tears and tantrums - and that's just the grown-ups.

From BBC ● Jan. 27, 2024

“An actor is what he looks like,” Sylvester Stallone told The New York Times in 1976, and more than most stars, Stallone has been viewed as an action figure come to life.

From New York Times ● Nov. 2, 2023

Under the alter ego, she shrinks to action figure size and makes funny videos.

From Salon ● Sep. 29, 2023

Some little kids were in the store, examining the new Spider-Man action figure, seeing what it could do.

From "Red Kayak" by Priscilla Cummings