patriarchal
Americanadjective
-
of or relating to a patriarch, the male head of a family, tribe, community, church, order, etc..
my father's conservative, patriarchal ways.
-
characteristic of an entity, family, church, etc., controlled by men.
a patriarchal church in which women are not allowed to hold leadership roles.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of patriarchal
First recorded in 1425–75; from Late Latin patriarchālis, equivalent to patriarch(a) patriarch ( def. ) + Latin -ālis -al 1 ( def. )
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.
Vocabulary lists containing patriarchal
Father's Day Words
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 SAT words Beginning with "P"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Roman Republic, Lessons 3–4
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Miller-Moreno saga is a textbook example of how this promise of patriarchal protection is a myth.
From Slate ● Aug. 3, 2026
Katebe argued that patriarchal tendencies in political parties have impacted women's participation.
From BBC ● Mar. 17, 2026
Della Cruz’s stirring Ninoy standing tall against the patriarchal savagery of Renfro’s Ferdinand and the petty vindictiveness of Acasio’s well-drawn Imelda is a powerful call to action.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 20, 2026
Ancient, patriarchal and oracular, Tennyson was not merely the poet laureate of England; he was, like his queen, a symbol of the British Empire.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
Maybe they were finally beginning to realize she was her own person, with a divergent, more modern belief system that renounced the patriarchal dynamics of their time—
From "When Dimple Met Rishi" by Sandhya Menon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
