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.

---

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

---

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

His predictions sound like something from the 1996 comedy “Jingle All the Way,” in which Arnold Schwarzenegger plays a dad desperately trying to find a sought-after action figure for his son after stores sell out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 7, 2025

Supporters even circulated online images of a modified Batman action figure, with “Harfuch” emblazoned on the chest.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 29, 2025

The original may have been R-rated and extraordinarily violent, but it also has its own action figure line.

From Salon ● Nov. 12, 2025

But he's concerned action figure commissions could soon dry up, as well as the public perception of his work, from thousands of AI images mimicking his passion.

From BBC ● Apr. 18, 2025

‘I’m still a little fuzzy. But did you . . . promise Kym an action figure?’

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan