matriarch

[ mey-tree-ahrk ]

/ ˈmeɪ triˌɑrk /

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See synonyms for: matriarch / matriarchal 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.

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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

Words nearby matriarch

Matosinhos, matr-, Matralia, matrass, matri-, matriarch, matriarchal, matriarchate, matriarchy, matric, matrical

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use matriarch in a sentence

He had sat by the ailing matriarch for a week with his extended family before she died, 11 years ago.
How Reservation Dogs Became More than Just Must-See Television in Its Second Season|Andrew R. Chow|August 2, 2022|Time
While Lopez was initially uncredited for her role as the young matriarch Maria Sanchez in the film, she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her role.
The 15 Best J. Lo Movies Of All Time|Cady Lang|February 11, 2022|Time
The matriarch of Argentina’s Baggio family, whose beverage company was accused by local officials of dumping industrial waste and whose son is embroiled in an investigation into money laundering, also moved the management of its wealth to Wyoming.
The ‘Cowboy Cocktail’: How Wyoming became one of the world’s top tax havens|Debbie Cenziper, Will Fitzgibbon|December 20, 2021|Washington Post
The matriarch shocks her four adult children by leaking the news of her death while she is still very much alive in order to read what everyone has to say about her.
The 34 Most Anticipated Books of Fall 2021|Arianna Rebolini|August 30, 2021|Time

Like a strong matriarch, Merkel aimed to keep the whole family in the tent.
Can Germany Lead Without Merkel?|Nick Fouriezos|April 14, 2021|Ozy
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
In the main house lived his eighty-year-old nonna, the matriarch, reliably dressed in black in the custom of Italian widows.
A Young Chef Travels to Calabria, Italy, and Learns the Old Ways of Cooking|Curtis Stone|November 28, 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
Scott Thomas appears to be having a grand old time playing this evil matriarch.
Cannes Diary: Nicolas Winding Refn’s ‘Only God Forgives’ and Alexander Payne’s ‘Nebraska’|Richard Porton|May 24, 2013|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
It was the initial Matriarch's of the season, and rumor had it that it was to be a very smart affair.
Eden|Edgar Saltus

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

Origin of matriarch

OTHER WORDS FROM matriarch

Words nearby matriarch

Words related to matriarch

How to use matriarch in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for matriarch

Derived forms of matriarch

Word Origin for matriarch