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
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100 SAT words Beginning with "P"
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The Roman Republic, Lessons 3–4
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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 everlasting draw of “The Forsyte Saga” to both men and women, then, is in the way these stories capture the plight of patriarchal pressures, spoken and implied.
From Salon • Mar. 28, 2026
Although Ju Ae is of the bloodline, North Korea's patriarchal system would not see her as being of the bloodline, Ryu says.
From BBC • Mar. 1, 2026
"It is a way of asserting women's place in a world and a system that remains deeply patriarchal," stressed Centeno, an expert in non-verbal communication.
From Barron's • Jan. 31, 2026
This is a self-aware martyr, assertive and vulnerable, manipulated by shadowy patriarchal forces.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 19, 2025
She clearly wants to try to determine her own identity in an agentic manner versus accepting one that’s forced upon her by a patriarchal society.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" 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.
