figurehead:
(plural: ‘fighreheads‘)
Abraham Lincoln, the American figurehead
a person who is the head or chief of an organisation, company, state or country in name only, but has no power or authority in managing it — constitutional monarchs — Queen Elizabeth II & Emperor Akihito of Japan; and presidents of parliamentary democracies — presidents of Israel, India, etc.;
the prime minister or other military officials that run the government of a country;
a person who has some power and influence who can motivate or influence others;
a person who used as a cover for some cheating or illegal activity, especially in some business deal,
Mao, the figurehead of China
Anna Hazare is considered the figurehead of the anti-corruption movement that is rocking the present ruling government.
The presidents of some countries are mere figureheads; they do not have any power in running the day to day affairs of the countries.
More and more international multi-billion dollar companies are ‘hiring’ figureheads, such as retired politicians, retired or active film stars or even TV personalities, to attract target audience and to influence the governments of the countries they have business dealings with.
Several people from political and entertainment fields from all over the world have come forward to be the figureheads in the fight against HIV AIDS disease.
(a ship's figurehead)
