noun
head of a family; patriarch; matriarch
Refers to the person who is the head or representative of a household, regardless of gender. Can be used in legal, historical, or everyday family contexts.
彼はこの家の家長として、家族を支えている。
As the head of this family, he supports his family.
家長が変わると、家の雰囲気も変わるものだ。
When the head of the family changes, the atmosphere of the household changes too.
Compound of 家 (house, family) and 長 (head, chief). The reading かちょう is the on'yomi of both kanji.