matriarch
pronunciation
How to pronounce matriarch in British English:
UK [ˈmeɪtriɑ:k]
How to pronounce matriarch in American English:
US [ˈmeɪtriɑrk]
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- Noun:
- a female head of a family or tribe
- a feisty older woman with a big bosom (as drawn in cartoons)
Word Origin
- matriarch (n.)
- "mother who heads a family or tribe," c. 1600, from matri- + -arch, abstracted from patriarch.
Example
- 1. The matriarch of the gandhi dynasty is keeping her grip on power .
- 2. And , her mother is definitely the matriarch of the bigger family .
- 3. Kwong siu-hing , the family matriarch , was yesterday appointed both as a non-executive director and chairman .
- 4. She saw herself as an elderly matriarch around whom younger people gathered to benefit from the fruits of her experience .
- 5. I know the vestal matriarch has sworn the temple will not take sides .