stick figure: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
MediumInformal, Neutral
Quick answer
What does “stick figure” mean?
A very simple drawing of a person or animal made from lines and circles, representing the head, body, and limbs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A very simple drawing of a person or animal made from lines and circles, representing the head, body, and limbs.
1. A simple, often humorous or schematic, representation of a person. 2. In animation and art, a basic model used for planning movement. 3. (Metaphorically) A person depicted as lacking substance, detail, or individuality.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is equally common in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral in both. Associated with childhood drawing, basic design, and preliminary sketches.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English corpus data, but the difference is negligible.
Grammar
How to Use “stick figure” in a Sentence
[Subject] drew a stick figure.The [document/illustration] featured stick figures.It was diagrammed with stick figures.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “stick figure” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The health and safety poster used a stick figure to demonstrate the lifting technique.
- My nephew's drawing was just a green stick figure on a yellow background.
American English
- The storyboard began with stick figures to block out the scene.
- She doodled a stick figure in the margin of her notebook.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in informal brainstorming sketches (e.g., 'We just used stick figures to map the user journey').
Academic
Common in art education, psychology (e.g., developmental studies of children's drawings), and animation studies.
Everyday
Very common when describing simple drawings, especially by children, or in instructional diagrams.
Technical
Used in animation/storyboarding as a basic model for posing and motion studies (a 'stick figure rig').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “stick figure”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “stick figure”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “stick figure”
- Using 'stick figure' to describe a very thin person (pejorative; use 'skinny' or 'gaunt' instead).
- Misspelling as 'stickfigure' (it's two words).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is two separate words: 'stick figure'.
No, it is solely a noun. You 'draw a stick figure' but you cannot 'stick figure' something.
'Stick figure' is standard in British English. 'Matchstick man' is also used, but 'stick figure' is more common.
Yes, if referring to a very thin person, it can be considered rude or derogatory. The term should be reserved for drawings.
A very simple drawing of a person or animal made from lines and circles, representing the head, body, and limbs.
Stick figure is usually informal, neutral in register.
Stick figure: in British English it is pronounced /ˈstɪk ˌfɪɡə(r)/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈstɪk ˌfɪɡjər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a figure made from sticks - straight lines for limbs, a circle for a head. It sticks in your mind because it's so basic.
Conceptual Metaphor
SIMPLICITY IS A STICK FIGURE (representing a complex entity in its most reduced, essential form).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'stick figure' LEAST likely to be used?