patriarch

noun

a man who is older and higher in rank than yourself

any of the early biblical characters regarded as fathers of the human race

the male head of family or tribe

title for the heads of the Eastern Orthodox Churches (in Istanbul and Alexandria and Moscow and Jerusalem)

Roots

paterpatri- · Latin · father arkhos-arch · Greek · ruler, chief

Synonyms for patriarch

paterfamiliasn abuna matriarchn hierarchn exarchn presbytern archpriestn prelaten popen fathern

Synonyms & related words for patriarch

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of patriarch — including paterfamilias, abuna, matriarch, hierarch, exarch, presbyter. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to patriarch

Explore words related to patriarch — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include patriarchism, patriarchate, catholicos, catholicate, patriarchic, patriarchal, materfamilias, matriarchate. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for patriarch

Common synonyms for patriarch include paterfamilias, abuna, matriarch, hierarch, exarch, presbyter, archpriest, prelate — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does patriarch come from?

The word patriarch breaks down into 2 roots of Latin and Greek origin: patri-, from Latin pater (“father”); and -arch, from Greek arkhos (“ruler, chief”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.