figurehead

/ˈfɪɡəhed/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈfɪɡjərhed/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfi-g(y)ər-ˌhed/ (ame, mw)

figurehead — noun

  • figureheadsingular
  • figureheadsplural

1. a person whose title makes them appear to lead a country, company, or group, whi

1.名詞C1
釋義

a person whose title makes them appear to lead a country, company, or group, while the real decisions are made by others behind the scenes.

例句

After the coup, the old king was kept on as a figurehead while the generals ran the country.

kept on as a figurehead — typical pattern

Madison signed every document, but she knew she was just a figurehead at the charity.

just a figurehead — common collocation

同義詞
  • puppet

    stronger negative tone; implies someone behind is pulling the strings

  • titular leader

    formal; neutrally states the role is in name only

  • nominal head

    formal; emphasises the title without authority

反義詞
  • kingpin

    informal; the actual person who holds real power

  • decision-maker

    neutral; someone with real authority to choose

文法句型

a figurehead of/for + organization

用法筆記

Often appears with 'mere', 'just', 'little more than', or 'ceremonial' to stress the lack of real authority. Subject is usually a named role-holder (king, chairman, president) inside an institution.

常見錯誤

❌He is the figurehead of the project, making all the key calls.
✅He is the leader of the project, making all the key calls.
💡a figurehead has the title but NOT the real decision-making power.

2. a wooden carving, often shaped like a woman or warrior, mounted at an old sailin

2.名詞C2
釋義

a wooden carving, often shaped like a woman or warrior, mounted at an old sailing ship's bow as decoration.

例句

The museum displayed a carved figurehead of a mermaid taken from a wrecked 18th-century ship.

carved figurehead — typical collocation

Sailors believed the wooden figurehead on the bow would protect the ship from storms.

figurehead on the bow — typical position phrase

同義詞

文法句型

a figurehead on the bow/prow

用法筆記

Now mainly historical or maritime-museum context. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is a physical object on a ship, not a person.