matriarchal
matriarchal Lexical Profile
matriarchal Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Relating to or denoting a social system, family, or community in which the mother or oldest female is the head and holds primary authority.
"Elephants live in closely knit matriarchal herds led by the oldest and most experienced female."
Characteristic of a matriarch; possessing the dignified, authoritative, or protective qualities of a female family head.
"She presided over the holiday dinner table with a warm yet unmistakably matriarchal presence."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'matriarchal' (denoting a society or family where women hold primary power and leadership) with 'matrilineal' (denoting a system where kinship and inheritance are traced through the mother's line, regardless of who holds political power).
• Rhymes for matriarchal
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in English from 'matriarch' plus the suffix '-al', modeling 'patriarchal' by combining the Latin root 'mater' (mother) with the Greek '-arkhes' (ruler).