as in dad
an older man who acts in a paternal role to younger people
The coach was a stern, wise father figure to his players.
Related Words
Relevance
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of father figure
The linebacker even called him a father figure.
—
Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Martella, who retired in 2019, considered Fogarty a brother, a friend, a mentor and at times a father figure.
—Laura Ness, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Matt also became a father figure to Luciana's daughter, Alexia.
—Jessica Booth, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
All grandfathers, uncles, fathers and father figures are invited.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Jeff Fedotin, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Martella, who retired in 2019, considered Fogarty a brother, a friend, a mentor and at times a father figure.
—Laura Ness, Mercury News, 18 Jan. 2026
Matt also became a father figure to Luciana's daughter, Alexia.
—Jessica Booth, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026
All grandfathers, uncles, fathers and father figures are invited.
—Melinda Moore, Chicago Tribune, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for father figure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for father figure
Noun
-
And Dean’s son, who is also named Kenneth, like his dad and his grandfather, has been a cop for three years.—
Rebecca White,
New York Daily News,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Over 500 institutions still give you a leg up if your mom or dad went there.—
Jonathan Zimmerman,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But while Gu hailed from a wealthy family that spent time in both the US and China, Liu’s father fled China after helping to lead the Tiananmen democracy protests, which China’s Communist Party cracked down on brutally.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Osmond, her siblings, and her father were what scientists call natural short sleepers.—
Shayla Love,
New Yorker,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Father figure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/father%20figure. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
