figurant

[ fig-yuh-rant, -rahnt; French fee-gy-rahn ]
See synonyms for figurant on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. a ballet dancer who does not perform solo.

  2. a performer with no spoken lines.

Origin of figurant

1
First recorded in 1775–80; from French, present participle of figurer “to figure, appear, represent,” from Old French, from Latin figūrāre, “to form, shape,” from figūra “form, composition”; see origin at figure

Words Nearby figurant

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use figurant in a sentence

  • The former of these is said to be 45 years of age, and has long been reckoned the best figurant on this stage.

  • He ventures to hold that as much talent is necessary to constitute a tolerable figurant as to make a good actor.

    A Book of the Play | Dutton Cook
  • The figurant, from this modest and accidental beginning of his career as an actor, speedily rose to be famous.

    A Book of the Play | Dutton Cook

British Dictionary definitions for figurant

figurant

/ (ˈfɪɡjʊrənt) /


noun
  1. a ballet dancer who does group work but no solo roles

  2. theatre a minor character, esp one who does not speak

Origin of figurant

1
C18: from French, from figurer to represent, appear, figure

Derived forms of figurant

  • figurante (ˌfɪɡjʊˈrɒnt), fem n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012