materfamilias

[ mey-ter-fuh-mil-ee-uhs ]

noun

1. the mother of a family.

materfamilias

/ ˌmeɪtəfəˈmɪlɪˌæs /

noun

1. the mother of a family or the female head of a family

Word History and Origins

Origin of materfamilias¹

First recorded in 1750–60; from Latin; paterfamilias

Word History and Origins

Origin of materfamilias¹

C18: from Latin

Example Sentences

The novel recounts the history and hardships of the Binewski clan, carnival folk whose pater- and materfamilias, Al and Crystal Lil, create their own freak show.

From Washington Post

If all you need from the new “Roseanne” is Ms. Barr’s materfamilias sarcasm, the crack team of comedy actors surrounding her and an update of the show’s working-class gallows humor, it has you covered.

From New York Times

Either way, to read that final sentence is to detect a sulphurous whiff of Kardashian materfamilias Kris, who will have regarded the furore engulfing her daughter as a major injustice.

From The Guardian

She played the materfamilias Carol, the wife of Mike Brady, a man with three boys of his own.

From Wall Street Journal

That loyalty can also be, at times, very foolish, to the extent where even Goodfellas materfamilias Karen Hill would question such irrational devotion.

From The Guardian