materfamilias
noun
ma·ter·fa·mil·i·as ˌmā-tər-fə-ˈmi-lē-əs 
ˌmä-
: a woman who is head of a household
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web But with tact and humanity, this materfamilias has still calmed the waters. 
Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2019 Though the Roundabout production, which opened on Tuesday evening, stars Elizabeth McGovern as the materfamilias, the story really is Kay’s. Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
Boyd Van Hoeij, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Oct. 2019 Though the Roundabout production, which opened on Tuesday evening, stars Elizabeth McGovern as the materfamilias, the story really is Kay’s. Jesse Green, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017 Word History
Etymology
Latin, from mater + familias, archaic genitive of familia household — more at family
First Known Use
1756, in the meaning defined above
materfamiliases
noun
as in matriarchs
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- matriarchs
- matrons
- mas
- old ladies
- stepmothers
- moms
- mommies
- mamas
- mammies
- mammas
- mommas
- maters
- supermoms
- superwomen
- pachygyria
- Pachyma
- pachymeter
- pachymeters
- Pachypasa
- Pachypsylla
- pachyrhizi
- Pachyrhizus
- pachyrhizuses
- pachyrhizusses
- pachysandra
- pachysandras
- Pachystima
- pachytene
- pachytenes
- Pachytylus
- pacier
- paciest
- pacifiable
- pacific
- pacific arborvitae
- Pacific Athapaskan
- pacific blockade
- Pacific bonito
- Pacific cedar