figurehead
/ˈfɪɡjərˌhɛd/
noun
- A person who is the leader of a group or organization in name only, with little or no real power or authority.
- The queen is a figurehead; the prime minister holds the real political power.
- After the scandal, the president became a figurehead with no control over policy.
- The company's CEO was just a figurehead, while the board made all the decisions.
- A carved wooden figure or statue attached to the bow of a ship, often representing a person or animal.
- The figurehead of a lion adorned the front of the warship.
- The old sailing ship had a mermaid figurehead carved from oak.
- Museum visitors admired the intricate figurehead from a 19th-century clipper.
Synonyms