matrilocal

American

[ma-truh-loh-kuhl, mey-] / ˌmæ trəˈloʊ kəl, ˌmeɪ- /

adjective

Anthropology.

of or relating to residence with the wife's family or tribe; uxorilocal.

matrilocal customs.

matrilocal British

/ ˈmætrɪˌləʊkəl, ˈmeɪ-, ˌmeɪ-, ˌmætrɪləʊˈkælɪtɪ /

adjective

denoting, having, or relating to a marriage pattern in which the couple live with the wife's family

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Etymology

Origin of matrilocal

First recorded in 1905–10; matri- + local

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Matrilocal societies are also less likely to experience internal conflict, she says.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023