figurehead

plural figureheads · alternative figure-head

1. nauticalA carved figure on the prow of a sailing ship.
2. broadlyfigurativelySomeone in a nominal position of leadership who has little to no actual power.

   Evidently he did not mean to be a mere figurehead, but to carry on the old tradition of Wilsthorpe's; and that was considered to be a good thing in itself and an augury for future prosperity.

   1928, Lawrence R. Bourne, chapter 2, in Well Tackled!

   2 more examples

   Instead she played, largely impeccably, the part of a modern constitutional monarch, a symbolic figurehead with a right to be consulted and to advise and warn political leaders privately and to show herself publicly as a focus of national life, celebration and commemoration.

   2022 September 8, Stephen Bates, “Queen Elizabeth II obituary”, in The Guardian

   Supporters of Wagenknecht, a controversial but prominent figurehead, are already hatching plans for a breakaway party to compete in the 2024 European elections, the German newspaper Taz reported this week.

   2022 September 19, Philip Oltermann, “Germany’s Die Linke on verge of split over sanctions on Russia”, in The Guardian

3. figurativelyobsoleteslangnauticalA person's face.

   HATCHET. Bring up, I say, or I'll spoil your figurehead. [Lifting his cudgel]

   1829, Douglas Jerrold, Black-Eyed Susan; or, All in the Downs

present singular third person figureheads · participle present figureheading · participle past figureheaded · past figureheaded · alternative figure-head

1. alsoidiomaticintransitivetransitiveTo lead (something) nominally and with little to no actual power.