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

“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 meets the younger singer on her turf: The track is a theatrical pop confection with a busy, singsong melody, and Mr. Smith’s ageless cracked moan makes him sound like an approving father figure.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 16, 2026

In that capacity, Head cemented Giles in our minds as a positive father figure without meeting the strict definition of a TV dad.

From Salon ● Jun. 12, 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

Maybe I could have just read that and had a father figure to teach me how to treat mothers.

From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri