matriarch
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.
Origin of matriarch
1Other words from matriarch
- ma·tri·ar·chal, ma·tri·ar·chic, adjective
- ma·tri·ar·chal·ism, noun
Words Nearby matriarch
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
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 | TimeWhile 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 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 PostThe 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.
Like a strong matriarch, Merkel aimed to keep the whole family in the tent.
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 | THE DAILY BEASTIn 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 | THE DAILY BEASTIf 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe 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 | THE DAILY BEASTScott 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 | THE DAILY BEASTThe fault of the drama lies in the uncertain conception of the characters, and particularly of that of the matriarch herself.
Henrik Ibsen | Edmund GosseMatriar′chalism, the character of possessing matriarchal customs; Matriar′chate, the position of a matriarch.
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
/ (ˈmeɪtrɪˌɑːk) /
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
Origin of matriarch
1Derived forms of matriarch
- matriarchal or rare matriarchic, adjective
- matriarchalism, noun
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
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