Definition of matriarch
: 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.
People Are Reading
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 of matriarch from the Web
-
Gibbins bought it from matriarch Betty Mullins’ family in 2001, and has also operated a barbecue-steakhouse in Sansom Park.
-
Nick's is run by the Delmonte Family, whose matriarch Anna Delmonte hails from Montaguto, Italy.
-
It's been two summers since the death of Milo's matriarch Beatrice Carlton, but her granddaughter is keeping alive the family traditions.
-
The 69-year-old family matriarch was a familiar face on the TLC series about the family business, Carlo’s Bakery in Hoboken, N.J.
-
At Michael's insistence, Josie has always kept her distance from this creepy matriarch, whose hold over her son was simultaneously cold and smothering.
-
Amid the large cast, Katharine Goeldner stands out in the pivotal role of Ma Joad, the matriarch determined to keep the family together regardless of circumstance.
-
In January, Zoo Miami’s matriarch gorilla, Josephine died just shy of her 50th birthday.
-
Sitting on the sidelines as the walkers passed by in silence was Olivia's great-grandmother, and the family matriarch, Terry Alvarado Brown, of Hobart.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'matriarch.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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.
First Known Use of matriarch
1606
Other Government and Politics Terms
MATRIARCH Defined for English Language Learners
matriarch
playDefinition of matriarch for English Language Learners
-
: a woman who controls a family, group, or government
MATRIARCH Defined for Kids
matriarch
playDefinition of matriarch for Students
: a woman who is the head of a family, group, or state
Word Root of matriarch
The Latin word mater, meaning “mother,” gives us the root mater or matr. Anyone or anything maternal, such as a grandparent, is related through the mother's side of the family. Maternity is the state of being a mother. A matriarch is a woman who is the mother and head of a family. A matron is a married woman who may be a mother.
Learn More about matriarch
-
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for matriarch Spanish Central: Translation of matriarch Nglish: Translation of matriarch for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up matriarch? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!