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.

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 matriarchal

Jane was raised in a matriarchal family by her hyper-religious grandma and young, aspiring singer single mother.
‘Jane the Virgin’ Is The CW’s Best Show Ever|Amy Zimmerman|October 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By calling in the matriarchal troops, Elin effectively changed the rules of the game.
What Tiger's Mom Saw|Lizzie Skurnick|December 5, 2009|DAILY BEAST
As recent ethnologists seem inclined to agree, this does not mean a matriarchal family.
Ethics|John Dewey and James Hayden Tufts
The term “matriarchal” takes too much for granted that women at one period ruled.
The Position of Woman in Primitive Society|C. Gasquoine Hartley

Historians agree as to the high civilization even today of those nations or tribes still preserving traces of Matriarchal customs.
Woman, Church & State|Matilda Joslyn Gage
The Temple of the Goddess, high on the Acropolis, stood as a relic of matriarchal worship.
The Truth About Woman|C. Gasquoine Hartley
Among peoples at a low stage of development, matriarchal conditions prevail or have been abandoned but recently.
Woman and Socialism|August Bebel

British Dictionary definitions for matriarchal

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