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
For seven years, Bishop played the affluent, unyielding and ever-sharp family matriarch Emily Gilmore.
—
Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
The family was celebrating matriarch Terri's birthday by releasing five sea turtles back into the wild, according to Bindi's Instagram.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 24 July 2025
Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley Beloved for her comedic timing in The IT Crowd, Parkinson promises to deliver a fierce and nurturing matriarch.
—Marni Rose McFall Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Meanwhile, Gloria Reuben will play Mae Silver, the Silver family matriarch, and Marcus Scribner will play Jonah, the family's youngest member.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for matriarch
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Erin Spencer Sairam, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
The family was celebrating matriarch Terri's birthday by releasing five sea turtles back into the wild, according to Bindi's Instagram.
—Alexandra Schonfeld, People.com, 24 July 2025
Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley Beloved for her comedic timing in The IT Crowd, Parkinson promises to deliver a fierce and nurturing matriarch.
—Marni Rose McFall Orton, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 July 2025
Meanwhile, Gloria Reuben will play Mae Silver, the Silver family matriarch, and Marcus Scribner will play Jonah, the family's youngest member.
—Wesley Stenzel, EW.com, 18 July 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 5 Aug. 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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