authority figure
noun
: a person who has authority over another person
A child needs an authority figure in his or her life.
Examples of authority figure in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This distortion creates a dynamic that blurs the line between authority figure and peer ally, which is unhealthy, unproductive and simply not the role of public schools.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Still, its square to Pluto on April 3 could create friction at work, or intensify the dynamic between you and an authority figure.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Born in Michigan, Tolkan served in the Navy before studying at the Actors Studio, eventually becoming Hollywood’s go-to stern authority figure for decades.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Instead, first-time director Fergus Campbell drops us directly into Cleo’s world — no parents, no rules and every authority figure is obscured, like the unintelligible adults in Peanuts cartoons.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for authority figure
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The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2026
Still, its square to Pluto on April 3 could create friction at work, or intensify the dynamic between you and an authority figure.
—Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 1 Apr. 2026
Born in Michigan, Tolkan served in the Navy before studying at the Actors Studio, eventually becoming Hollywood’s go-to stern authority figure for decades.
—Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Instead, first-time director Fergus Campbell drops us directly into Cleo’s world — no parents, no rules and every authority figure is obscured, like the unintelligible adults in Peanuts cartoons.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for authority figure
Cite this Entry
“Authority figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/authority%20figure. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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