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Chairperson vs Figurehead - What's the difference?

chairperson | figurehead |

As nouns the difference between chairperson and figurehead

is that chairperson is a chairman or chairwoman, someone who presides over a meeting, board, etc while figurehead is (nautical) a carved figure on the prow of a sailing ship.

chairperson

English

Noun

(en-noun)
  • a chairman or chairwoman, someone who presides over a meeting, board, etc.
    • She was the chairperson of the board and she presided over the meeting .

    Usage notes

    In modern usage, terms like (chair), (moderator), (coordinator), (presiding) (officer), (group) (leader), (head), (facilitator), and so forth, are often preferred.

    Synonyms

    * chair * presiding officer, presider

    figurehead

    English

    Noun

    (wikipedia figurehead) (en noun)
  • (nautical) A carved figure on the prow of a sailing ship.
  • (by extension) Someone in a nominal position of leadership who has no actual power; a front or front man.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1928, author=Lawrence R. Bourne
    • , title=Well Tackled! , chapter=2 citation , passage=Evidently he did not mean to be a mere figurehead , but to carry on the old tradition of Wilsthorpe's; and that was considered to be a good thing in itself and an augury for future prosperity.}}