patriarchy

noun

pa·​tri·​ar·​chy ˈpā-trē-ˌär-kē How to pronounce patriarchy (audio)
plural patriarchies
1
: social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line
broadly : control by men of a disproportionately large share of power
2
: a society or institution organized according to the principles or practices of patriarchy
For 20 years the country was ruled as a patriarchy.

Examples of patriarchy in a Sentence

For 20 years, the country was ruled as a patriarchy. a region in which patriarchy is practiced
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As long as men are in power, the United States will remain a patriarchy where the value of women is diminished, female victims are not believed and institutions aren’t held accountable. — Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026 Where Bikini Kill’s raw, aggressive, discordant tunes subvert gender expectations imposed on women, Uppity’s sincere and introspective jams refute the self-defeating emotional sterility that patriarchy demands from men. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 And a lot of this film is looking at what patriarchy does to women, the messaging of women needing to compete. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 25 Oct. 2026 The real world is an oppressive patriarchy, while the Kens taking over in the Barbie world is an abject disaster that must be fixed by the Barbies returning to rule their fictional world. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for patriarchy

Word History

First Known Use

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of patriarchy was in 1632

Rhymes for patriarchy

See All Rhymes for patriarchy

Browse Nearby Words

patriarchist
patriarchy
patricentric
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Patriarchy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriarchy. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

patriarchy

noun
pa·​tri·​ar·​chy ˈpā-trē-ˌär-kē How to pronounce patriarchy (audio)
plural patriarchies
1
: social organization in which the father is head of the family and ancestry and inheritance are traced in the male line
2
: a society organized according to the principles of patriarchy

More from Merriam-Webster on patriarchy

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about patriarchy

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