Word
patriarchy
Phoneticspa·tri·archy
US/ˈpeɪtɹiˌɑɹki/
UK/pˈætɹɪˌɑːki/
Definitions
01male-dominated society
n. a society or system where men hold most of the power and influence.
n. a social system or power structure in which men are dominant and hold primary positions of authority.
“Many historians study how patriarchy has influenced laws and property rights over centuries.”
“The book examines the ways in which patriarchy persists in modern corporate structures despite legal advances in gender equality.”
Academic
Usage
Often used with the definite article 'the' when referring to the general social concept.
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Antonyms
02male-led family system
n. a family system where the father or oldest male is the head of the household.
n. a social system in which the father is the head of the family and lineage is traced through the male line.
“In a traditional patriarchy, the father makes all the major decisions for the family.”
“Anthropologists distinguish between a patriarchy, where men hold authority, and patrilineal descent, which specifically concerns how names and property are inherited.”
Technical · Academic
Usage
Commonly used in anthropology and history to describe specific kinship structures.
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03church office
n. the office or rank of a high-ranking leader in some Christian churches.
n. the jurisdiction, office, or term of office of a patriarch in certain Christian denominations.
“The bishop was elevated to the patriarchy after years of service.”
“The historical boundaries of the patriarchy were redefined following the ecumenical council in the fourth century.”
Formal · Technical
Synonyms
Etymology
From Latin patriarchia, from Byzantine Greek πατριαρχία (patriarkhía), from Koine Greek πατριάρχης (patriárkhēs, “patriarch”), from πατρία (patría) and ἄρχω (árkhō). By surface analysis, patri- + -archy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
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englishreference.com/q/patriarchy