patriarch
noun
pa·tri·arch
ˈpā-trē-ˌärk 
1
a
: one of the scriptural fathers of the human race or of the Hebrew people
Abraham was a patriarch of the Israelites.
b
: a man who is father or founder
The newspaper patriarch celebrated his 90th birthday.
c(1)
: the oldest member or representative of a group
the cypress … is the patriarch of native trees, going back to the time of the dinosaur—
Amer. Guide Series: Texas
Amer. Guide Series: Texas
(2)
: a venerable old man
a whiskered patriarch, spry for his age—Frank Sullivan
Frank Sullivan
d
: a man who is head of a patriarchy
2
a
: any of the bishops of the ancient or Eastern Orthodox sees of Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem or the ancient and Western see of Rome with authority over other bishops
b
: the head of any of various Eastern churches
c
: a Roman Catholic bishop next in rank to the pope with purely titular or with metropolitan (see metropolitan entry 2 sense 1) jurisdiction
3
: a Mormon of the Melchizedek priesthood empowered to perform the ordinances of the church and pronounce blessings within a stake or prescribed jurisdiction
Examples of patriarch in a Sentence
Our grandfather was the family's patriarch.
The tribe's patriarch ruled for 20 years before his death.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hudson plays the patriarch of the blended Silver family, Reverend Peters.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 June 2025
Duck Commander isn't the same without patriarch Phil Robertson at the helm.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 June 2025
Walter Brennan as Grandpa Amos McCoy Walter Brennan played the patriarch of the McCoy family, the tough but lovable Grandpa Amos.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 31 May 2025
Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, who played the Byrnes patriarch in the original trilogy, have signed onto the film, with both Polo and Blythe Danner, who plays De Niro’s wife in the films, expected to return, though their contracts aren’t yet finalized.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patriarch
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Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 2 June 2025
Duck Commander isn't the same without patriarch Phil Robertson at the helm.
—Ryan Coleman, EW.com, 2 June 2025
Walter Brennan as Grandpa Amos McCoy Walter Brennan played the patriarch of the McCoy family, the tough but lovable Grandpa Amos.
—Tereza Shkurtaj, People.com, 31 May 2025
Ben Stiller and Robert De Niro, who played the Byrnes patriarch in the original trilogy, have signed onto the film, with both Polo and Blythe Danner, who plays De Niro’s wife in the films, expected to return, though their contracts aren’t yet finalized.
—Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for patriarch
Cite this Entry
“Patriarch.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriarch. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
patriarch
noun
pa·tri·arch
ˈpā-trē-ˌärk
1
a
: one of the Old Testament fathers of the human race or of the Hebrew people
b
: the father and ruler of a family or tribe
c
: an old man deserving respect
2
: any of various bishops of highest rank and dignity
patriarchal
adjective
ˌpā-trē-ˈär-kəl
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