figurehead
English
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figurehead
- /ˈfɪɡjəɹˌhɛd/
- /ˈfɪɡəɹˌhɛd/
Where it comes from
From figure + head.
noun figureheads · figure-head
- A carved figure on the prow of a sailing ship.
- Someone in a nominal position of leadership who has little to no actual power. Evidently he did not mean to be a mere figurehead, but to carry on the old tradition of Wilsthorpe's; and that was considered to be a good thing in itself and an augury for future prosperity.
- A person's face. HATCHET. Bring up, I say, or I'll spoil your figurehead. [Lifting his cudgel]
verb figureheads · figureheading · figureheaded · figure-head
- To lead (something) nominally and with little to no actual power.
Translations
Every language
verb carved figure on the prow of a sailing ship
| Español | mascarón de proa |
|---|---|
| Português | figura de proa |
| Français | figure de proue |
| Deutsch | Galionsfigur, Bugfigur |
| Italiano | polena |
| Ελληνικά | ακρόπρωρο akróproro |
| Русский | гальюнная фигу́ра galʹjunnaja figúra, носовое украше́ние nosovoje ukrašénije |
| עברית | גְּלִיף חַרְטוֹם glif khartom |
verb someone in a nominal position of leadership
| Español | hombre de paja, figura decorativa, testaferro, testaférrea, cabeza de fierro |
|---|---|
| Português | testa de ferro, laranja |
| Français | homme de paille, fantoche |
| Deutsch | Galionsfigur, Aushängeschild, Grüßaugust |
| Italiano | uomo di paglia, fantoccio, prestanome |
| Ελληνικά | αχυράνθρωπος achyránthropos |
| Русский | номинальный глава́ nominalʹnyj glavá, подставное лицо́ podstavnoje licó |
Talk about this word "figurehead." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/figurehead. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. figurehead. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/figurehead "figurehead." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/figurehead.
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@misc{figurehead_2026,
title = {figurehead},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/figurehead},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
