figurehead
noun
a person who is head of a group, company, etc., in title but actually has no real authority or responsibility.
figureheads
-
pluralof figurehead.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Maggie Thatcher came a few years before Reagan, but they were closely allied and historically linked as figureheads of the triumphant New Right.
From Salon ● Feb. 15, 2026
But on Sunday, it rallied around one of Wall Street’s most recognizable figureheads: the 72-year-old Fed chair.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 13, 2026
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.
From Barron's ● Nov. 18, 2025
Now vaguely older, the girls have become figureheads for opposing sides, with Glinda an Emerald City influencer and Elphaba an animal rights activist: the lime-colored embodiment of Greenpeace.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 18, 2025
For indeed, we are nothing but figureheads to complex forces which seem to be under a kind of impulse.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
