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.

Synonyms

• dame
• dowager
• grande dame
• matron

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

Parsons — last seen on Broadway in the four-time Tony nominated work Mother Play, will portray the stage narrator — with Holmes as worrisome matriarch Mrs. Webb and Deutch in her Broadway debut as daughter Emily Webb. —Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 17 July 2024

The treaty’s terms were supposedly proposed by a Californio matriarch named Bernarda Ruiz de Rodriguez, who persuaded the two men to stand down. —Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2024

Jon Bon Jovi paid loving tribute to the Bongiovi family matriarch on Wednesday (July 10), a day after his mother, Carol Bongiovi, died at 83. —Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 10 July 2024

All of the Pond Cottages are decked out with carved Indian beds, playful artwork — including some by the family matriarch Lillian Turchin — and upscale bathrooms with marble inlays, oversized soaking tubs, and rain showers. —Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 9 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1606, in the meaning defined above

Kids 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

matriarchal

ˌmā-trē-ˈär-kəl 

adjective