A figure can be a number, a shape or diagram, or the outline of a person or object. As a verb, it can also mean to think something out or to appear in something.
It comes from Latin “figura,” meaning “shape,” “form,” or “image.” Over time, it took on abstract meanings like numbers and important people (“public figures”).
Numbers are called “figures” because they’re shapes we write to stand for amounts. When you “figure something out,” you’re mentally shaping scattered facts into a clear picture.
"Figure" is neutral in many uses (numerical figure, historical figure) but has also been used to objectify women’s bodies ("she has a good figure") and to treat men as default "public figures" while women are reduced to appearance. These patterns reflect broader gender norms in media and everyday speech.
When referring to people, prefer terms that do not reduce them to body shape; use "person," "individual," or role-based terms ("political figure") and avoid commenting on physical "figures" unless clearly relevant and consensual.
["person","individual","body shape (clinical contexts)","public figure"]
In historical and cultural discussions, ensure that women and gender-diverse figures are included as central actors, not just as supporting characters or visual objects.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.