Phrase guide

front man

noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A person acting as the public face of some other, covert group.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: frontperson, front

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: frontperson, front

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: person

2

noun

Meaning 2

A striker.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: ball-games, games, hobbies, lifestyle, soccer, sports

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: forward, attacker

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: player, person

3

noun

Meaning 3

The lead singer in a musical group.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: entertainment, lifestyle, music

Examples

  • Near-synonym: frontperson
  • Pete Doherty is the front man of the Libertines.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: frontperson

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: musician, person

4

noun

Meaning 4

a person used as a cover for some questionable activity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: front, figurehead, nominal head, straw man, strawman

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: deceiver, cheat, cheater, trickster, beguiler, slicker

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: testaferro — public face
  • Catalan: prestanoms (Andorra) — public face
  • Finnish: keulakuva — public face
  • French: prête-nom — public face
  • French: homme de paille — public face
  • German: Strohmann — public face
  • German: Strohfrau — public face
  • Italian: uomo di paglia — public face
  • Italian: fantoccio — public face
  • Italian: prestanome — public face
  • Portuguese: testa de ferro — public face
  • Russian: подставно́е лицо́ (podstavnóje licó) — public face
  • Russian: номина́льный глава́ (nominálʹnyj glavá) — public face
  • Russian: зиц-председа́тель (zic-predsedátelʹ) — public face
  • Spanish: testaferro — public face
  • Spanish: testaférrea — public face
  • Spanish: cabeza de fierro — public face
  • Finnish: hyökkääjä — football: striker, attacker, forward
  • Russian: напада́ющий (napadájuščij) — football: striker, attacker, forward
  • Russian: фо́рвард (fórvard) — football: striker, attacker, forward
  • Finnish: solisti — music: lead singer
  • German: Frontmann — music: lead singer
  • German: Frontfrau — music: lead singer
  • Polish: frontman — music: lead singer
  • Russian: вокали́ст (vokalíst) — music: lead singer
  • Russian: соли́ст (solíst) — music: lead singer
  • Russian: фронтме́н (frontmɛ́n) — music: lead singer
  • Russian: певе́ц (pevéc) — music: lead singer
  • Swedish: frontman — music: lead singer