patriarchs

Cultural  

1. In the Old Testament, the “founding fathers” of the Israelites: Abraham and Isaac, Jacob, and the sons of Jacob. (See Joseph and his brothers.)

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Example Sentences

Zion Canyon was named by Mormons in the late 19th century, and other landmarks bearing religious names abound — Hall of the Patriarchs, Tabernacle Dome, Cathedral Mountain.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 30, 2023

This is an unprecedented statement from the Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem about the future of Christians in the Holy Land.

From BBC • Dec. 21, 2021

And at Mount Rainier, a line of hikers patiently waited and shouted encouragingly as my 5-year-old cautiously and nervously walked across a one-person-at-a-time wire footbridge to the Grove of the Patriarchs.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 20, 2021

"Patriarchs -- An Elegy" remembers Philip as a member of a generation who "fought ingenious wars, finagled triumphs at sea with flaming decoy boats, and side-stepped torpedoes" -- references to his wartime naval service.

From Fox News • Apr. 17, 2021

I think Overbearing Eurocentric Patriarchs would be perfect, but I don’t suggest it.

From "Speak" by Laurie Halse Anderson