noun
patriarchy
PAY-tree-ar-kee
Patriarchy (noun) means a social system in which men hold most of the power, and in which authority, property and status pass primarily through men. Example: “The book argues that the patriarchy shapes who gets listened to at work.”
noun
1
A social system in which men hold most of the power, and in which authority, property and status pass primarily through men.
"The book argues that the patriarchy shapes who gets listened to at work."
2
formal A community or family group headed by the oldest male, or the office of a patriarch in some Christian churches.
"The Patriarchy of Constantinople."
How to use patriarchy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA society or system run mainly by men.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
the patriarchy
smash the patriarchy
patriarchal society
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Etymology
From Greek "patriarkhēs," the head of a family, from "patēr" (father) plus "arkhein" (to rule).
Synonyms
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male dominance
patriarchate
Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for patriarchy
See all rhymes for patriarchy →Frequently asked questions
What does patriarchy mean?
A social system in which men hold most of the power and influence — in government, business, property and family authority. In modern usage it usually describes a structural pattern rather than any individual man.
What is the opposite of patriarchy?
Matriarchy, a system in which women hold that authority. Genuine matriarchies are historically rare, which is part of why the words are not used with equal frequency.
What is the meaning of patriarchy?
"patriarchy" (noun) means a social system in which men hold most of the power, and in which authority, property and status pass primarily through men.
What is another word for patriarchy?
Other words for "patriarchy" include male dominance, patriarchate.
