figurehead

noun
UK: /ˈfɪɡəhed/
US: /ˈfɪɡjərˌhed/

  1. A person who is the head of a group or organization in name only and has no real power.

    1. The president was a mere figurehead, with no power.
    2. The new CEO was seen as a figurehead appointed to appease shareholders.

  2. A carved decoration on the front of a ship, often representing a person.

    1. The ship had a beautiful figurehead of a mermaid.
    2. The old ship's figurehead was a weathered carving of a fierce sea captain.

Synonyms

puppet leader dummy symbol front

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "figurehead" in English means: A person who is the head of a group or organization in name only and has no real power., A carved decoration on the front of a ship, often representing a person..

The phonetic transcription of "figurehead" is /ˈfɪɡəhed/ in British English and /ˈfɪɡjərˌhed/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "figurehead": puppet, leader, dummy, symbol, front.

Example usage of "figurehead": "The president was a mere figurehead, with no power.". More examples on the page.