Matrilateral is a term used to describe kinship relationships that are related to one's mother. However, there are many other words that can be used to express this same idea. Some synonyms for matrilateral include "matrilineal," "maternal," "motherly," and "materfamilias." These words can refer to the same concept, but each has a slightly different connotation. Maternal may imply a nurturing quality, while matrilineal may be more specifically related to the passing down of maternal qualities, such as inheritance or lineage. Materfamilias is a term that refers to a female head of household in a matrilineal family. Each of these words can be used to describe the connections one has through their mother's lineage.