figure of authority

noun phrase

: a person who has authority over another person : a person who has the power to give orders or make decisions
A child needs a figure of authority in his or her life.

Examples of figure of authority in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The stereotypical permissive parents are the ones who see themselves as their children's friend, and not a figure of authority. Marisa Lascala, Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'figure of authority.' 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 figure of authority

Cite this Entry

“Figure of authority.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20of%20authority. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!