matriarchal

adjective

ma·​tri·​ar·​chal ˌmā-trē-ˈär-kəl 

: of, relating to, or being a matriarch or matriarchy

a matriarchal society

Johnnie Angelia King … plays a very different matriarchal figure here, imbuing hard-working Faye with passion …

—Larry T. Collins

As a Filipino-American, Lirio Marcelo was steeped in a matriarchal culture where there was no shortage of female role models in corporate and government realms.

—Lydia Dishman

Examples of matriarchal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gara lives in a deeply patriarchal culture, where violence by men can shatter the lives of women, yet as a matriarchal figure, Gara embodies qualities of Sinjajevina itself. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026

With Madonna so much in the news and much chatter about the coming of a matriarchal age, breasts have come to the fore and the brassiere has once again come out from under. — Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 14 Oct. 2026

The home of the witches led by Supreme Cordelia Goode (Sarah Paulson) contrasts the devil’s penthouse with its reappearance, according to production designer Anu Schwartz, its opalescent interiors embodying the bright magic of the matriarchal coven. — Mekita Rivas, Architectural Digest, 8 Oct. 2026

Lemurs also have complex social hierarchies and are uniquely matriarchal for primates. — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 29 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1780, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for matriarchal

• patriarchal
• sparkle