Entry 1 sense Webster, 1913 matriarchal /mātˌ-rē-är'-kəl/ · ma·tri·ar·chal · IPA /mˌeɪtriːˈɑrkəl/ 01 a. Of or pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a matriarch or matriarchs; as, a matriarchal society. 1. Of or pertaining to a matriarch; governed by a matriarch or matriarchs; as, a matriarchal society.