paterfamilias

noun

pa·​ter·​fa·​mil·​i·​as ˌpa-tər-fə-ˈmi-lē-əs 

ˌpä-,

ˌpā-

plural patresfamilias ˌpā-ˌtrēz- 

ˌpä-ˌtrās-

1

: the male head of a household

2

: the father of a family

3

: a man who originates or is a leading figure in something (such as a movement, discipline, or enterprise)

Examples of paterfamilias in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In a sense this is a classic family drama: the struggle over the paterfamilias’s legacy, complete with allegations of late-in-life changes to the will. —Benjamin Soskis, Town & Country, 27 Oct. 2022

Schumer’s actions as paterfamilias of Senate Democrats are often informed by his New York sensibilities. —Grace Segers, The New Republic, 13 Sep. 2022

There’s also a concern about acting as if your son were a source of shame, a secret to be hidden from the paterfamilias. —Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 9 Aug. 2022

This is Putin’s vision of the Russian world, a strong and blessed house with Russia as the paterfamilias, tough and occasionally harsh, but ultimately benevolent, sharing the fruits of Russian civilization with those who belong to its world. —Tom McTague, The Atlantic, 18 June 2022

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, from pater father + familias, archaic genitive of familia household — more at father, family

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1