father figure

American  

[fah-ther fig-yer] / ˈfɑ ðər ˌfɪg jər /

noun

• father figures
  plural

1. an emotional substitute for one's father, especially one who fulfills parental functions such as protection, authority, support, etc.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• father figures
  plural

Etymology

Origin of father figure

First recorded in 1930–35

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

father figure

“Warren and I are mostly peers, but sometimes he is so much wiser than I am, he’s like a father figure to me,” Gates wrote.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

“He’s been a father figure, a mentor and impacted so many aspects of our lives. The impact is on so many generations of people. It’s still tough for us to wrap our minds around it.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 6, 2026

He has, of course, become that father figure and mentor to generations within American comedy.

From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026

"I love the monarchy because my parents divorced when I was very young. Rama IX was like a father figure to me," she said, referring to the former king.

From Barron's ● Jun. 12, 2026

Don’t look for some sad tale of the father figure I’m missing or how he left when blah, blah, blah.

From "Sparrow" by Sarah Moon