figureheadfig‧ure‧head /ˈfɪɡəhed $ ˈfɪɡjər-/ noun [countable] 
Examples
The Queen is merely a figurehead.► see thesaurus at leader2a wooden model of a woman that used to be placed on the front of ships
ExamplesEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
Thesaurus- He was never more than a mere figurehead in the negotiations.
- Norway's King Harald V is a figurehead.
- The president is essentially a figurehead: the real power lies with the prime minister.
- But despite the president s show of contrition, few analysts believe Mr Wahid is willing to become a figurehead just yet.
- More than 10 years on, Mr Thomson has once again assumed a figurehead role over Mrs Maginnis.
- Scarcely surprisingly, he became one of the figureheads of the revolution of 1820.
- Switzer is regarded as a figurehead who basically just stays out of the way.
- The figurehead President, Joseph Nerette, resigned and the post was left vacant.
- The Emperor was transformed from a divine figure into a constitutional figurehead.
- The manager is merely a figurehead.
- There had only been six, then; the five old Encyclopedistsall dead now-and himself, the young figurehead of a mayor.
THESAURUS► leader
1someone who seems to be the leader of a country or organization but who has no real power → puppet: the person who directs or controls a group, organization, country etc: · Party members will vote next week to elect a new leader.· leaders of developing nations from around the world
► ruler someone, such as a king or queen or a military leader, who has official power over a country or area: · Sheik Mohammed, ruler of Dubai· Argentina’s former military rulers
► head of state someone who leads a country or state: · Twenty-one heads of state will meet at the annual World Trade summit.
► figurehead someone who is seen as the leader of a country or organization, although he or she does not have any real power: · the Queen’s role as a national figurehead· There are advantages in having a respected personality as a figurehead for the organisation.
► ringleader someone who leads a group that is doing something illegal or wrong: · The alleged ringleaders of the gang have been arrested.· the ringleaders of the airplane bomb plot
Longman Language Activatorthe leader of a group or country► leader someone who is in charge of a group of people, or someone who they have chosen to represent them: · The report has raised strong opposition from radical black leaders.· 12,000 party members will vote next week to elect a new leader.leader of: · the leader of the Communist party· The leaders of the rebel movement have been arrested.world leader (=the leader of a major country): · World leaders are meeting in Geneva today to consider the peace plan.union/party/community etc leader: · To function effectively, a party leader has to be attentive to people's needs.· So far, business leaders have been encouraged by the government's economic policy.gang leader: · Three members of the 'Hells Angels' group were convicted of the murder of a rival gang leader.born leader (=someone who is naturally very good at being a leader): · Peter was a born leader, and his chairmanship of the WWF could not have been more effective.leader of the opposition (=the leader of the group of people in a parliament who are not part of the government, and who argue against it): · The leader of the opposition has demanded an early election.
► leadership the people in charge of a political party or country: · Party members had lost confidence in the leadership.· Turkey has lacked any clear leadership since the collapse of the coalition government four months ago.leadership of: · The leadership of the Association was criticized for not making its plans more easily accessible.
► president the official leader of a country that does not have a king or queen: · President Chirac visited Japan this week.· It was Dever's job to advise the president on his public image.president of: · the President of Egypt
► head of state someone who leads a country or state: · President Clinton was the first head of state to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.· Twenty-one heads of state will meet at the annual World Trade summit.
► prime minister the elected leader of the government in a country that has a parliament: · The British Prime Minister lives at 10 Downing Street.· Hashimoto was elected prime minister in 1998.prime minister of: · the Prime Minister of India
► ruler someone, such as a king or queen or a military leader, who has the power to run the government of a country: · King Priam was a firm, but just ruler.ruler of: · Ramses II, ruler of Egypt in 13,000 BChereditary ruler (=the son or daughter of a ruler, who becomes the new ruler when that parent dies): · Some regimes are governed by hereditary rulers.
► king a man who is the official leader of a country because he is a member of a royal family: · a portrait of King George VIking of: · King Juan Carlos of Spain· the King of Morocco
► queen a woman who is the official leader of a country because she is a member of a royal family, or a woman who is the wife of a king: · a new biography of Queen Elizabethqueen of: · the Queen of Sweden· the King and Queen of Belgium
► figurehead use this to describe someone who is recognized as the leader of a country or organization, although he or she does not have any real power: · The president is essentially a figurehead: the real power lies with the prime minister.· He was never more than a mere figurehead in the negotiations.
WORD SETS► Officialsaccession, nounaccredited, adjectiveaide, nounambassador, nounapparatchik, nounarchduke, nounassemblyman, nounassemblywoman, nounattaché, nounbadge, nounborough council, nouncaliph, nounchamberlain, nounchancellery, nounchancellor, nounChancellor of the Exchequer, nounchieftain, nouncity fathers, nouncity planning, nouncivil servant, nounclerk, nounclerk of works, nounCllr, commissioner, nouncomptroller, nouncongressman, nouncongresswoman, nounconsul, nounconsulate, nouncoroner, nouncouncillor, nouncouncilman, nouncouncilwoman, nouncourtier, nouncrown, nouncrown, verbcrowned head, nounCrown Prince, nounCrown Princess, nounCustoms and Excise, noun-cy, suffixczar, nounczarina, noundeputy, noundictator, noundignitary, noundiplomat, noundiplomatic, adjectivediplomatic corps, noundiplomatic immunity, noundispatch box, noundispensation, noun-dom, suffixdossier, noundrug czar, nounducal, adjectiveduchess, nounduchy, nounduke, noundukedom, nounelder statesman, nounembassy, nounemirate, nounemissary, nounemperor, nounempress, nounEurocrat, nounfigurehead, nounForeign Office, the, governor, nounGovernor-General, noungovernorship, noungubernatorial, adjectivehack, nounHome Secretary, nounimpeach, verbinaugurate, verbincumbency, nounincumbent, nounkhalif, nounkhan, nounlegate, nounlegation, nounlegislator, nounlocal council, nounlord, nounLord, nounmandarin, nounmarshal, nounmayor, nounmayoralty, nounmayoress, nounmember, nounMember of Parliament, nounMEP, nounMI5, nounMI6, nounminister, nounministerial, adjectiveminister of state, nounmission, nounmole, nounmonarch, nounmonitor, nounmotorcade, nounMP, nounNo. 10, occupy, verb-ocrat, suffixoffice, nounoffice holder, nounofficer, nounofficial, nounofficial, adjectiveofficialdom, nounofficialese, nounoverlord, nounpalace, nounpatriarchal, adjectivepatrician, adjectivePharaoh, nounplenipotentiary, nounPM, nounpost, verbposting, nounpotentate, nounPPS, nounprefect, nounpremier, nounpres., presidency, nounpresident, nounpresident-elect, nounpresidential, adjectivepress secretary, nounpretender, nounPrime Minister, nounprince, nounprince consort, nounprincess, nounproconsul, nounproconsulate, nounProvost, nounpublic servant, nounquango, nounqueen, nounqueenly, adjectiveQueen Mother, nounrajah, nounred tape, nounreeve, nounreign, nounreign, verbreshuffle, nounroyal, adjectiveroyal, nounroyalty, nounruler, nounsecretary, nounsenator, nounShah, nounsheriff, nounshogun, nounsovereign, nounsoviet, nounstatesman, nounsuccession, nounsultan, nounsultana, nountechnocrat, nountown clerk, nountown council, nountribune, nountriumvirate, nountroika, nountsar, nountsarina, nountzar, nountzarina, nounundersecretary, nounvice-president, nounviceroy, nounvizier, nounVP, nounwalkabout, nounwatchdog, nounwhip, nounWhite House, noun
The Queen is merely a figurehead.► see thesaurus at leader2a wooden model of a woman that used to be placed on the front of ships