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father figure
noun
: a person often of particular power or influence who serves as an emotional substitute for a father
Examples of father figure in a Sentence
The coach was a stern, wise father figure to his players.
Recent Examples on the Web
The sudden death of an unconventional father figure leads the protagonist of Dinaw Mengestu’s third novel, Someone Like Us, on a cross-country journey to untangle the facts and fictions of his life.
—Shannon Carlin, TIME, 22 May 2024
Families with father figures and children raised in faith are not juvenile gang crime participants.
—Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 8 Mar. 2024
Editor’s picks Speaking of God: The first story concerns a Job-like figure named Robert (Jesse Plemons) whose faith in his all-knowing father figure is being tested.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 May 2024
Her gruesome death, replete with crucifixion imagery, is the tragedy that shapes her daughter’s life and seeds her obsessive quest for revenge against the man who positions himself as a father figure.
—David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for father figure
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'father figure.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1916, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near father figure
Cite this Entry
“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/father%20figure. Accessed 13 Jun. 2024.
Medical Definition
father figure
noun
fa·ther figure
ˈfät͟h-ər-
: one often of particular power or influence who serves as an emotional substitute for a father
More from Merriam-Webster on father figure
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for father figure
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