patriarchal

American  

[pay-tree-ahr-kuhl] / ˌpeɪ triˈɑr kəl /

Sometimes patriarchic,

adjective

1. of or relating to a patriarch, the male head of a family, tribe, community, church, order, etc..

   my father's conservative, patriarchal ways.

2. characteristic of an entity, family, church, etc., controlled by men.

   a patriarchal church in which women are not allowed to hold leadership roles.

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Other Word Forms

• antipatriarchal
  adjective
• quasi-patriarchal
  adjective
• unpatriarchal
  adjective
• antipatriarchally
  adverb
• patriarchally
  adverb
• patriarchically
  adverb
• unpatriarchally
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of patriarchal

First recorded in 1425–75; from Late Latin patriarchālis, equivalent to patriarch(a) patriarch ( def. ) + Latin -ālis -al ¹ ( def. )

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Explanation

A patriarchal system is one run by men. Traditionally, most societies have been patriarchal, but it's now considered sexist and unfair. The patriarchal way used to be pretty much the only way: countries and societies were run by men. The U.S. was very patriarchal, especially when women couldn't even vote. Over time, these things change, though probably not fast enough. These days, calling a country or business patriarchal is usually an insult — it implies that women aren't being treated equally.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

patriarchal

Remembering that the naked nuns are not cloistered because of some vocational dedication to Christ but because of their troublesome uselessness to the patriarchal order, they become that much more sympathetic.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The Miller-Moreno saga is a textbook example of how this promise of patriarchal protection is a myth.

From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026

Adapted from a Bengali show called Sampoorna, Chiraiya has been reimagined for northern India, which is a much more patriarchal region.

From BBC ● Apr. 11, 2026

Not only has Gyllenhaal taken the reins from cinema’s patriarchal collective, but she’s implemented a distinctly feminine gaze, as complex and fascinating as the social implications tucked away between the lines of Shelley’s original text.

From Salon ● Mar. 8, 2026

Major de Coverley was a splendid, awe-inspiring, grave old man with a massive leonine head and an angry shock of wild white hair that raged like a blizzard around his stem, patriarchal face.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller

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Related Words

• autocratic
• dictatorial
• imperious
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• strict
• totalitarian
• tyrannical

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