fig ‧ ure ‧ head /ˈfɪɡəhed $ ˈfɪɡjər-/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
1 . someone who seems to be the leader of a country or organization but who has no real power ⇨ puppet :
The Queen is merely a figurehead.
2 . a wooden model of a woman that used to be placed on the front of ships
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THESAURUS
▪ leader the person who directs or controls a group, organization, country etc:
12,000 party members will vote next week to elect a new leader.
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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 Mohamed, ruler of Dubai
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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
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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.
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the ringleaders of the airplane bomb plot