materfamilias
noun
ma·ter·fa·mil·i·as
ˌmā-tər-fə-ˈmi-lē-əs 
ˌmä-
: a woman who is head of a household
Examples of materfamilias in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The novel recounts the history and hardships of the Binewski clan, carnival folk whose pater- and materfamilias, Al and Crystal Lil, create their own freak show.
—
Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2022
But with tact and humanity, this materfamilias has still calmed the waters.
—Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2019
Though the Roundabout production, which opened on Tuesday evening, stars Elizabeth McGovern as the materfamilias, the story really is Kay’s.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
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Elizabeth Hand, Washington Post, 11 Nov. 2022
But with tact and humanity, this materfamilias has still calmed the waters.
—Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2019
Though the Roundabout production, which opened on Tuesday evening, stars Elizabeth McGovern as the materfamilias, the story really is Kay’s.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Cite this Entry
“Materfamilias.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/materfamilias. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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