matriarch

[ mey-tree-ahrk ]

/ ˈmeɪ triˌɑrk /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR matriarch ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

Words nearby matriarch

matosinhos, matr-, matralia, matrass, matri-, matriarch, matriarchate, matriarchy, matric, matrical, matrices

Origin of matriarch

First recorded in 1600–10; matri- + -arch

OTHER WORDS FROM matriarch

ma·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. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for matriarch

One of those families is the Cucho family, headed by 69-year-old matriarch Natividad Cucho Velasquez.
Put Down That Cashmere. There’s a New Luxury Wool in Town|Ann Binlot|December 2, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If indeed the suit was a gamble by the Jackson matriarch to amass a sizable bank account of her own, it did not pay off.
Sorry, Mrs. Jackson: How the King of Pop’s Mother Lost Her Billion-Dollar Lawsuit|Diane Dimond|October 3, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The clamor would have ceased as the matriarch led a retreat and the danger would have seemed to pass.
How to Capture an Elephant: Excerpt From Michael Daly’s ‘Topsy’|Michael Daly|July 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Listen to her story about making jewelry with Rebecca Lolosoli, matriarch of the Umoja Uaso women's village.
Women in the World 2011 Video Highlights||February 10, 2012|DAILY BEAST

But as a matriarch with three sons, she is upset about the arrests of the youngsters in Daraa.
Gay Syrian Blogger a Hoax?|Asne Seierstad|June 6, 2011|DAILY BEAST
The fault of the drama lies in the uncertain conception of the characters, and particularly of that of the Matriarch herself.
Henrik Ibsen|Edmund Gosse
Matriar′chalism, the character of possessing matriarchal customs; Matriar′chate, the position of a matriarch.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M)|Various

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 forms of matriarch

matriarchal 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 Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

matriarch

noun

Words related to matriarch

Words nearby matriarch

Origin of matriarch

OTHER WORDS FROM matriarch

Example sentences from the Web for matriarch

British Dictionary definitions for matriarch

noun

Derived forms of matriarch

Word Origin for matriarch