matriarchal
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a matriarch, the female head of a family, tribe, community, etc..
her matriarchal qualities of love and compassion.
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characteristic of an entity, family, etc., controlled by women.
matriarchal cultures in India.
Etymology
Origin of matriarchal
First recorded in 1840–45; matriarch ( def. ) + -al 1 ( def. )
Explanation
You can describe your family as matriarchal if it is full of strong women, headed by your feisty grandmother. A group or society is matriarchal when it is run by women. Anthropologists use the adjective matriarchal to talk about societies that are headed by females. The word comes from the Greek matēr, "mother," and archein, "to rule." The term matriarchal arose as a balance to the traditional patriarchal, male-ruled, concept of society, although feminists and anthropologists often use it to describe societies in which women have equal rights, as well as families or tribes headed by mothers or grandmothers.
Vocabulary lists containing matriarchal
History of India - Introductory
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History of India - Middle School and High School
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Chapters 7–9
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The stoicism of her Seri project is contrasted by the more lighthearted photos she took of people in Juchitán, highlighting the matriarchal culture there.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
“My own family is multi-ethnic, matriarchal, and feminist, with a significant history of immigration,” wrote Polidoro, who in her Instagram bio mentions being a Golden Globes voter and awards season analyst.
From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 9, 2025
Her performance as the quick-witted matriarchal figure won her three Primetime Emmy awards, a Bafta, a Golden Globe and four Screen Actors Guild awards.
From BBC • Sep. 27, 2024
Thy live in matriarchal groups of about 10 and sometimes meet up with hundreds or thousands of other whales.
From Seattle Times • May 7, 2024
In the original legend it is likely enough that Medea belongs to "matriarchal" times before the institution of marriage.
From Medea of Euripedes by Euripedes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
