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

As Henry embarks on a mission to save his friend, a ruthless British crime family, led by matriarch May Ferguson, played by Driver, is also looking for the missing contraband and Tommy. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 22 Oct. 2024

Driver co-stars as the matriarch of a ruthless British crime family. —Vlada Gelman, TVLine, 22 Oct. 2024

Enter matriarch Kristi McBee, who comes in this season to help her sons navigated their challenges (and the ups and downs in their romantic relationships, which is also a hot topic on the show). —Dave Quinn, People.com, 18 Oct. 2024

The matriarch of the storied Kennedy family is survived by nine children, 34 grandchildren and many great-grandchildren. —CBS News, 16 Oct. 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