# patriarch

/ˈpeɪtɹiˌɑɹk/ (US) · /pˈætɹɪˌɑːk/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/patriarch
Updated: 2026-05-06

## Definition

the male head of a family or tribe. In a broader sense, it can also mean a powerful older man who leads a group or organization.

For teachers: the male head of a family, clan, or tribal lineage. In ecclesiastical contexts, it refers to a high-ranking bishop in certain Eastern churches; in sociological contexts, it describes a man who holds primary power within a social system.

## Examples

- The family patriarch gathered everyone for his eightieth birthday.
- As the oldest living member of the dynasty, he served as the patriarch and final arbiter of all business disputes.
- The novel explores the slow decline of a once-powerful patriarch whose rigid traditionalism eventually alienates the very heirs he sought to protect.

## Usage notes

- Often used metaphorically to describe the founding father of a movement or industry.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.