matriarch

[ mey-tree-ahrk ]

/ ˈmeɪ triˌɑrk /

SEE MORE 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.

RELATED WORDS

matron, dowager, queen, dame, mother

Nearby words

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

Origin of matriarch

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

Related forms

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. 2019

Examples 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

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