materfamilias

American  

[mey-ter-fuh-mil-ee-uhs] / ˌmeɪ tər fəˈmɪl i əs /

noun

1. the mother of a family.

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materfamilias British  

/ ˌmeɪtəfəˈmɪlɪˌæs /

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of materfamilias

First recorded in 1750–60; from Latin; paterfamilias

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 • Nov. 11, 2022

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 • Mar. 26, 2018

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 • Apr. 6, 2017

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 • Oct. 11, 2016

A Peruvian materfamilias, having bought a few simple house-keeping articles in town, is here seen returning to her mountain home, accompanied by her purchases.

From Our Artist in Cuba, Peru, Spain and Algiers Leaves from The Sketch-Book of a Traveller, 1864-1868 by Carleton, George W.