matriarch
noun
ma·tri·arch
ˈmā-trē-ˌärk 
: a woman who rules or dominates a family, group, or state
specifically
: a mother who is head and ruler of her family and descendants
Our grandmother was the family's matriarch.
Did you know?
A matriarchy is a social unit governed by a woman or group of women. It isn't certain that a true matriarchal society has ever existed, so matriarchy is usually treated as an imaginative concept. But there are societies in which relatedness through women rather than men is stressed, and elements of matriarchy may be stronger in certain societies than they are in most of the Western world. And most of us can point to families in which a woman has become the dominant figure, or grande dame, or matriarch.
Examples of matriarch in a Sentence
Our grandmother was the family's matriarch.
The tribe's matriarch ruled for 20 years before her death.
Recent Examples on the Web
These are our matriarchs – the most prominent women in the Book of Genesis.
—
Mark Gerson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025
All bridesmaids, perhaps? Kris Jenner The matriarch and manager of the Kardashian family (which includes Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner).
—Vogue, 16 May 2025
The thorny issue was re-litigated at a fascinating reunion, where Lyons finally spoke up and asserted herself as the voice of reason — and the matriarch — of the group.
—Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2025
On the Gemstones mourning the loss of the matriarch
A lot of people don't have experience with running a mega church or can identify with that.
—Tonya Mosley, NPR, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
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Mark Gerson, FOXNews.com, 17 May 2025
All bridesmaids, perhaps? Kris Jenner The matriarch and manager of the Kardashian family (which includes Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Khloé Kardashian, Kendall Jenner, and Kylie Jenner).
—Vogue, 16 May 2025
The thorny issue was re-litigated at a fascinating reunion, where Lyons finally spoke up and asserted herself as the voice of reason — and the matriarch — of the group.
—Louis Staples, Rolling Stone, 13 May 2025
On the Gemstones mourning the loss of the matriarch
A lot of people don't have experience with running a mega church or can identify with that.
—Tonya Mosley, NPR, 12 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Cite this Entry
“Matriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matriarch. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
matriarch
noun
ma·tri·arch
ˈmā-trē-ˌärk
: a woman who rules a family, group, or state
especially
: a mother who is head of her family and descendants
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