noun
matriarch
MAYT-rih-ahk
Matriarch (noun) means a woman who is the head or leading figure of a family, tribe, or group. Example: “The family matriarch still made every major decision at ninety years old.”
noun
1
A woman who is the head or leading figure of a family, tribe, or group.
"This female hyena also gets erections and is larger, more aggressive than the male hyenas and lives in matrilineal clans of up to 80 individuals governed by an alpha female matriarch."
— Katie Hunt, How zoology got female animals all wrong (2022)
"The family matriarch still made every major decision at ninety years old."
"As matriarch of the herd, the oldest elephant leads the group to water."
How to use matriarch
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA senior, powerful female leader of a family or group.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
family matriarch
clan matriarch
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Word forms
- Plural
- matriarchs
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The family _____ still made every major decision at ninety years old.
Etymology
From Latin māter, "mother," combined with -arch, from Greek arkhós, "chief, leader."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for matriarch
See all rhymes for matriarch →Frequently asked questions
What does “matriarch” mean?
The word “matriarch” means a woman who is the head or leading figure of a family, tribe, or group. In plain terms, a senior, powerful female leader of a family or group.
How do you pronounce “matriarch”?
“Matriarch” is pronounced MAYT-rih-ahk (/ˈmeɪtɹiɑɹk/ in IPA).
How do you use “matriarch” in a sentence?
Here is “matriarch” used in a sentence: “The family matriarch still made every major decision at ninety years old.”
What is another word for “matriarch”?
Words with a similar meaning to “matriarch” include materfamilias.
What is the opposite of “matriarch”?
The opposite of “matriarch” — its antonyms — are highfather, paterfamilias and patriarch.
What part of speech is “matriarch”?
“Matriarch” is a noun.
Where does the word “matriarch” come from?
The word “matriarch” comes from Latin. From Latin māter, "mother," combined with -arch, from Greek arkhós, "chief, leader.".
