matriarch
[ mey-tree-ahrk ]
/ ˈmeɪ triˌɑrk /
noun
the female head of a family or tribal line.
a woman who is the founder or dominant member of a community or group.
a venerable old woman.
Nearby words
matosinhos, matr-, matralia, matrass, matri-, matriarch, matriarchal, matriarchate, matriarchy, matric, matrical
Related formsma·tri·ar·chal, ma·tri·ar·chic, adjectivema·tri·ar·chal·ism, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for matriarch
British Dictionary definitions for matriarch
matriarch
/ (ˈmeɪtrɪˌɑːk) /
noun
a woman who dominates an organization, community, etc
the female head of a tribe or family, esp in a matriarchy
a very old or venerable woman
Derived Formsmatriarchal or rare matriarchic, adjectivematriarchalism, noun
Word Origin for matriarch
C17: from matri- + -arch, by false analogy with patriarch
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for matriarch
matriarch
"mother who heads a family or tribe," c.1600, from matri- + -arch, abstracted from patriarch.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper