Meaning of Matriarch | Babel Free

Definitions

1. A female leader of a family, a tribe or an ethnic or religious group.
2. The dominant female in a family group of elephants
3. A strong and domineering older woman; a battle axe.
   Northern-England
4. A female founder of a political or religious movement, an organization or an enterprise.

Equivalents

Examples

“A typical Lancashire matriarch ushers the reassured townsfolk off the premises, confident that her money is safe: 'You don't deserve⟳ any business doubting t' Co-op. It's sound⟳ enough, and them that doubt⟳ it ought to be ashamed of themselves.'”

“Although the drummer has no musical segments in the film, he remains a central visual presence, inevitably accompanied—and visually framed—by his aunt, the stereotypically loud, forceful, and domineering northern matriarch.”

“Cornelius Hazelwood – naturally I gave him a name⟳ – saw⟳ to it that Felix could tell⟳ his prime numbers from his square roots. Then Beryl Swinehodge, an imperious Yorkshire matriarch, rolled up to test⟳ him on food pyramids.”

CEFR level