key figure

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A person who plays an especially important role in an event, group or period.

   Grammar: Followed by in: a key figure in the project.

   Patterns

   • a key figure in something

   She was a key figure in the civil rights movement.

   The coach became a key figure in the club's rise.

   Several key figures resigned after the scandal.

2. 2nouncountablebusiness

   An important statistic or number that summarizes a situation.

   Grammar: Often plural: the key figures show growth.

   The key figures in the budget are on page two.

   Sales were the key figure the board wanted.

   Check the key figures before the meeting starts.

Word forms

Common combinations

key figure in

He was a key figure in the peace talks.

a central key figure

She is a central key figure in the film industry.

key figures show

The key figures show a steady rise in profits.

become a key figure

He became a key figure in local politics.

key figure behind

The key figure behind the design was an intern.

Synonyms and how they differ

leading light

Leading light praises someone admired in a field, rather than just important to events.

main player

Main player is more informal and often used for companies as well as people.

linchpin

Linchpin means the one thing holding everything together, a stronger idea than key.

major figure

Major figure stresses fame and prominence over practical importance.

Opposites

Word family

key adjective

very important

figure noun

a person, number or shape

figurehead noun

a leader with little real power

Commonly confused: key figure or key character?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “key figure”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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