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
The real-life matriarch of Malcolm in the Middle’s fictional family experienced a major life shift following the series’ end.
—
Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
The physically towering Brimelow family matriarch was holding up keys to the castle.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Written by Berlanti and Doran from a story the duo co-wrote with Robbie Rogers, How To Survive Without Me is set in the wake of matriarch Beverly’s passing.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026
That collaboration continued on the sketch series SCTV and in the mockumentaries of Christopher Guest, and culminated with her Emmy-winning portrayal of riches-to-rags matriarch Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
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Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 11 Apr. 2026
The physically towering Brimelow family matriarch was holding up keys to the castle.
—Literary Hub, 8 Apr. 2026
Written by Berlanti and Doran from a story the duo co-wrote with Robbie Rogers, How To Survive Without Me is set in the wake of matriarch Beverly’s passing.
—Denise Petski, Deadline, 8 Apr. 2026
That collaboration continued on the sketch series SCTV and in the mockumentaries of Christopher Guest, and culminated with her Emmy-winning portrayal of riches-to-rags matriarch Moira Rose on Schitt's Creek.
—Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Cite this Entry
“Matriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matriarch. Accessed 16 Apr. 2026.
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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