action figure

American  

noun

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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Etymology

Origin of action figure

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

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

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

From Salon • Nov. 12, 2025

The Chargers set the bar among a throwback action figure commercial, a Mario Kart parody and an ad for a prescription drug.

From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 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

At the party, Davis had briefly lost this Iron Man action figure he always had with him.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green