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materfamilias

noun
ma·​ter·​fa·​mil·​i·​as | \ ˌmā-tər-fə-ˈmi-lē-əs How to pronounce materfamilias (audio) , ˌmä-\

Definition of materfamilias

: a woman who is head of a household

Examples of materfamilias in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 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, "Review: The Future Is Always Present in ‘Time and the Conways’," 10 Oct. 2017

First Known Use of materfamilias

1756, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for materfamilias

Latin, from mater + familias, archaic genitive of familia household — more at family

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