head of house
Family's top authority
Head of house is the person recognized as having primary authority or responsibility within a household.
The role traditionally fell to the senior male, though modern usage is more flexible.
In boarding schools, particularly British ones, head of house refers to a student or staff member who leads one of the residential divisions: She was appointed head of house in her final year.
- patriarchMale head of family
- matriarchFemale family leader
- family manHusband devoted to household
- breadwinnerPrimary household earner
- breadwinner roleMain financial supporter position
provider · father · mother · landlord · master · mistress · authority · final say · ruler · guardian · elder · homeowner · family · roof · dinner table · responsibility · decision · clan
- school staffteacher, teachers, principal, professor, librarian
- household rolesmother, father, husband, wife, parent
- family membersmother, father, sister, brother, son
- family rolesmother, father, mom, dad, parents
- household membersmom, mother, dad, father, son
- masculinitymanhood, machismo, masculinity, manliness, alpha male
head of housedependent
Requiring outside support
minor child · dependent child · ward · minor · junior member
head, house, heads, headed, heading, header, headless, overhead, behead