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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
Her slide into rebellion as a teenager who just lost her father feels very real, and a thing that her older brother has to deal with now as the father figure of the family.
—Ryan Schwartz, TVLine, 24 Oct. 2024
The actor appeared in Morbius as Dr. Emil Nicholas, a mentor and father figure to Dr. Michael Morbius (Jared Leto), who runs a facility for people with incurable illnesses.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 26 Sep. 2024
The Penguin becomes Victor’s boss, mentor and father figure, mirroring Batman’s relationship with Robin.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
Trump is in desperate need of a father figure, and with a father like Fred Trump (Martin Donovan), who wouldn’t be?
—Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 9 Oct. 2024
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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 22 Nov. 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
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for father figure
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