1. the male head of a family or tribe
2. a man who is regarded as the founder or father of something
3. a high-ranking bishop in certain Christian churches
Usage: religious

Examples

• The patriarch of the family made all the important decisions.
• Abraham is considered a patriarch in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
• He was regarded as the patriarch of modern physics.
• The Orthodox patriarch blessed the congregation.
• The elderly patriarch gathered his children and grandchildren around him.
• Many cultures have traditionally been led by patriarchs.
• The company’s founder remained its patriarch until his death.