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
This young woman does not need a gaggle of gangly ’80s teens, a father figure, or a famous-detective older brother to bail her out.
—
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024
Prosecutors said other deputies often tried to impress McAlpin, and Opdyke's attorney said Wednesday that his client saw McAlpin as a father figure.
—Michael Goldberg and Emily Wagster Pettus, Quartz, 21 Mar. 2024
Now, after four decades as a coach, motivator, teacher and father figure, Hermosillo’s career is rounding third.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024
These quotes can also work for celebrating grandparents, uncles, stepdads, family friends, and other father figures!
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 16 Mar. 2024
The organization’s founders included two Harvard medical students, Paul Farmer and Jim Yong Kim, who regarded Dr. Hiatt as a father figure.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Pascal was up for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series for his role as post-apocalyptic father figure Joel on HBO's The Last of Us and ended up taking home the trophy.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
Mahershala Ali has been defying stereotypes before and since his Oscar-winning breakout as an unlikely father figure in Moonlight.
—Sam Gill, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2024
My abuser was also my adoptive father, the only father figure in my life.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2024
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Mar. 2024
Prosecutors said other deputies often tried to impress McAlpin, and Opdyke's attorney said Wednesday that his client saw McAlpin as a father figure.
—Michael Goldberg and Emily Wagster Pettus, Quartz, 21 Mar. 2024
Now, after four decades as a coach, motivator, teacher and father figure, Hermosillo’s career is rounding third.
—John Maffei, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024
These quotes can also work for celebrating grandparents, uncles, stepdads, family friends, and other father figures!
—Nicole Harris, Parents, 16 Mar. 2024
The organization’s founders included two Harvard medical students, Paul Farmer and Jim Yong Kim, who regarded Dr. Hiatt as a father figure.
—Trip Gabriel, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2024
Pascal was up for outstanding performance by a male actor in a drama series for his role as post-apocalyptic father figure Joel on HBO's The Last of Us and ended up taking home the trophy.
—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 25 Feb. 2024
Mahershala Ali has been defying stereotypes before and since his Oscar-winning breakout as an unlikely father figure in Moonlight.
—Sam Gill, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Feb. 2024
My abuser was also my adoptive father, the only father figure in my life.
—Justin Curto, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2024
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.
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 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share