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 matriarch of the Dutton family, who writes letters to Spencer like diary entries, is the majestic Helen Mirren as Cara Dutton with a gruff Harrison Ford impeccably playing her loving husband, Jacob Dutton.
—
Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Claudine Jasper, the matriarch of Purpose, the latest work of irreverence and soul-searching by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
—Soraya Nadia McDonald, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2025
The true-life sports biopic unleashes Leo as Alice, the loud, over-the-top matriarch of a large Boston family and manager mom to Micky Ward, a championship boxing contender trained by his drug-addict pugilist half-brother Dicky.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
After her father King George VI brought home a corgi named Dookie from a local kennel, the late monarch received a dog for her 18th birthday named Susan — who went on to be the matriarch of a long line of royal dogs.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
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Rachel Elspeth Gross, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025
Claudine Jasper, the matriarch of Purpose, the latest work of irreverence and soul-searching by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins.
—Soraya Nadia McDonald, Vulture, 25 Feb. 2025
The true-life sports biopic unleashes Leo as Alice, the loud, over-the-top matriarch of a large Boston family and manager mom to Micky Ward, a championship boxing contender trained by his drug-addict pugilist half-brother Dicky.
—Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025
After her father King George VI brought home a corgi named Dookie from a local kennel, the late monarch received a dog for her 18th birthday named Susan — who went on to be the matriarch of a long line of royal dogs.
—Stephanie Petit, People.com, 25 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
Cite this Entry
“Matriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matriarch. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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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