figurehead: Meaning and Definition of

fig•ure•head

Pronunciation: (fig'yur-hed"), [key]
— n.
  1. a person who is head of a group, company, etc., in title but actually has no real authority or responsibility: Most modern kings and queens are figureheads.
  2. a carved full-length figure or bust built into the bow of a sailing ship.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: