figurehead

[fig-yer-hed]

noun

1. a person who is head heads of a group, company, etc., in title but actually has no real authority or responsibility.

   Most modern kings and queens are figureheads.

2. Nautical.,  a carved full-length figure or bust built into the bow of a sailing ship.

figurehead

/ ˈfɪɡəˌhɛd /

noun

1. a person nominally having a prominent position, but no real authority

2. a carved bust or full-length figure at the upper end of the stems of some sailing vessels

Word History and Origins

Origin of figurehead¹

First recorded in 1755–65; figure + head

Example Sentences

It was only the Raiders, and with the help of an almost feral Browns defence getting 10 sacks, but Cleveland's offence needs a leader, a figurehead to inspire confidence.

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A MIT report and commentary from figureheads like Sam Altman over the summer sparked the market paranoia that has caused investors to increasingly sour on AI’s prospects.

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Kennedy weighed whether to add a leader to run the agency day to day while leaving Makary in place as a figurehead, some of the people said.

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Since then, LeCun, who speaks with a light French accent and is known for wearing black Ray-Ban glasses and collared shirts, has largely become a figurehead for the company.

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On the face of it, the 24-year-old should be a figurehead for his country, a proven Premier League goalscorer in a squad where most players represent clubs in the second or third tiers.

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Related Words

• cipher 
• nonentity 
• puppet