A doll by another name, differing from a doll by being designed for tough, aggressive, "masculine" situations. Used by males to disguise their insecurity with being associated with traditionally "feminine" things. Just like a kilt is not caled a "skirt".
"Action figure"? What does that mean anyway? Is it an active thing? What does it mean? Call it what you like it, but any way that you look at it, an "action figure" is a doll by another name; "That which we call a rose/By any other word would smell as sweet."-Juliet, Romeo and Juliet
A plastic figure that usually does an action (hence the name). Are usually owned by 10 year old boys who incest that they're NOT or HAVE anything in common with a doll and 40 year old virgin nerds with a capital N who collect them along with dolls and not allow any part of it to leave the case until it becomes of ulimate value.
NOT a doll. Dolls are for girls. Action figures are much more masculine and cool. Often depicting certain super-heroes or video game/movie characters, and sometimes real people.
A doll for boys (and sometimes even grown men, no joke). Don't ever let anyone try to fool you that action figures aren't dolls. There's no real difference besides the title.
"I'm looking for a Han Solo Action Figure"
"Oh so you're an adult who plays with dolls huh?"
"I SAID ACTION FIGURE!!! IT'S NOT A DOLL!!!!!"
"Okay, would you also like a Princess Leia doll to go with Han?"
"STFU!!!!!!"