patriarch

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patriarch

/ˈpeɪtɹɪɑːk/ UK
/ˈpætɹiɑːk/ UK
/ˈpeɪtɹiɑɹk/ US

Where it comes from

From Middle English patriark, patriarche, from Late Latin patriarcha; later reinforced by Old French patriarche, from Ancient Greek πατριάρχης (patriárkhēs, “the founder of the tribe/family”), from Ancient Greek πατριά (patriá, “generation, ancestry, descent, tribe, family”) + -ᾰ́ρχης (-ắrkhēs, “-arch”), with some senses likely influenced directly by Latin pāter (“father”) or Ancient Greek πᾰτήρ (pătḗr, “father”). Compare matriarch. By surface analysis, patri- + -arch.

noun patriarchs

The highest form of bishop, in the ancient world having authority over other bishops in the province but now generally as an honorary title; in Roman Catholicism, considered a bishop second only to the Pope in rank.
A male leader of a family, tribe or ethnic group, especially one of the twelve sons of Jacob (considered to have created the twelve tribes of Israel) or (in plural) Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Men and brethren / lett me frely ſpeake vnto you of the patriarke David: For he is both deed and buryed / and his ſepulcre remayneth with vs vnto this daye.
A founder of a political or religious movement, an organization or an enterprise.
An old leader of a village or community. The opinions of this junto were completely controlled by Nicholas Vedder, a patriarch of the village, and landlord of the inn, at the door of which he took his seat from morning till night, just moving sufficiently to […] keep in the shade of a large tree; […]
The male progenitor of a genetic or tribal line, or of a clan or extended family.
Similar: ancestor, forebear, forefather
The male head of a household or nuclear family. The popular Duck Dynasty television show and Duck Commander products took center stage in a controversy over comments made by Phil Robertson. As patriarch of the family and founder of the company, he stars in the A&E reality show based on his Louisiana life and company.
Similar: highfather, paterfamilias
A shade of purple

Opposite: matriarch, materfamilias

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: paterfamilias, graybeard, patriarchate, patriarchal, patriarchy, tso, father, sire, progenitor, forefather, elder, chief, master, ruler, lord, ancestor

noun

Opposite: matriarch, materfamilias

Translations

Every language

noun highest bishop

Español	patriarca
한국어	총대주교 chongdaejugyo
日本語	総主教 sōshukyō, 総大司教 sōdaishikyō
中文	宗主教 zōngzhǔjiào
Português	patriarca
Français	patriarche
Deutsch	Patriarch
Italiano	patriarca
Ελληνικά	πατριάρχης patriárchis
Română	patriarh
Русский	патриа́рх patriárx
Tiếng Việt	thượng phụ, mục thủ
العربية	بَطْرِيَرْك baṭriyark, بَطْرَك baṭrak, بَطْرِيك baṭrīk
עברית	פַּטְרִיאַרְךְ patriárkh

noun male leader

Español	patriarca
한국어	가장 gajang
日本語	家長 kachō
中文	家長 /家长 jiāzhǎng, 家主 jiāzhǔ
हिन्दी	आदिपुरुष ādipuruṣ
Português	patriarca
Français	patriarche
Deutsch	Patriarch, Erzvater
Italiano	patriarca
Ελληνικά	πατριάρχης patriárchis
Русский	патриа́рх patriárx, старе́йшина staréjšina
Tiếng Việt	gia trưởng
العربية	شَيْخ šayḵ, بَطْرِيَرْك baṭriyark
עברית	פַּטְרִיאַרְךְ patriárkh

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Cite this

MLA

"patriarch." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/patriarch. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

patriarch. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/patriarch

Chicago

"patriarch." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/patriarch.

BibTeX

@misc{patriarch_2026,
  title = {patriarch},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/patriarch},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}