matriarch

American  

[mey-tree-ahrk] / ˈmeɪ triˌɑrk /

noun

matriarchs plural

1. the female head of a family or tribal line.

2. a woman who is the founder or dominant member of a community or group.

3. a venerable old woman.

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matriarch British  

/ ˈmeɪtrɪˌɑːk /

noun

1. a woman who dominates an organization, community, etc

2. the female head of a tribe or family, esp in a matriarchy

3. a very old or venerable woman

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• matriarchalism
  noun
• matriarchal
  adjective
• matriarchic
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• matriarchs
  plural

Etymology

Origin of matriarch

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

Explanation

Rose Kennedy was the matriarch of the Kennedy clan — she was the female head of the family. This noun can also be used metaphorically. For instance, Alice Waters could be called the matriarch of Chez Panisse and the generation of chefs that her revolutionary restaurant inspired. Although matriarch was created as a parallel term to patriarch, this eighteenth-century new creation was based on a false etymology. Although patri- might look related to the Latin pater "father," it actually comes from the Greek patria "family." Presumably, it was assumed that such a person would be a man. In any case, patriarch has come to mean the male head of a family or clan, while matriarch is used if the head of a family or clan is female.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

matriarch matriarchs

Later, recounting his fruitless sessions with his hopeless catechumen, Father Mowbray tells the matriarch how he tried to explain to Mottram the concept of papal infallibility:

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 22, 2026

"The Godfather is a page turner," Trigiani wrote, "but when I searched for the matriarch, she was sorely missing."

From Barron's ● May 14, 2026

The family matriarch, Barby, remains a D.C. society fixture.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 23, 2026

But I always think back to when I was very, very young, there was a kind of matriarch here in the neighborhood.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 5, 2026

Padva is called “Tante” by the entire company, though she feels more like a matriarch than merely an aunt.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

As long as this hunger continues and audiences show up for “The Faithful,” the producers have a wealth of stories to tell beyond the great matriarchs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026

Our services are heavy on the patriarchs—and, for some, the matriarchs too.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 11, 2025

For nearly 70 years, she played Peggy Woolley in the long-running radio drama: one of the best-loved matriarchs in British broadcasting.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2024

Xiyadie said he learned it by observing his mother and village matriarchs.

From New York Times ● Mar. 20, 2024

As the two matriarchs hauled me through the door, they told Aunt Bushy not to go to school but stay behind and mind the house and the children.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane

Related Words

• matron