WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ma•tri•ar•chal /ˌmeɪtriˈɑrkəl/USA pronunciation adj.
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025- of or relating to a matriarch or to a matriarchy.
ma•tri•arch /ˈmeɪtriˌɑrk/USA pronunciation
n. [countable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- Sociology, Anthropologythe female head of a family or tribal line.
- Anthropologya woman who is the founder or most important member of a group.
ma•tri•arch
(mā′trē ärk′),USA pronunciation n.
ma′tri•ar′chal, ma′tri•ar′chic, adj.
ma′tri•ar′chal•ism, n.
- Sociology, Anthropologythe female head of a family or tribal line.
- Anthropologya woman who is the founder or dominant member of a community or group.
- a venerable old woman.
- matri- + -arch 1600–10
ma′tri•ar′chal•ism, n.
'matriarchal' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):