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patrilocal

American  
[pa-truh-loh-kuhl, pey-] / ˌpæ trəˈloʊ kəl, ˌpeɪ- /

adjective

Anthropology.

  1. virilocal.

patrilocal British  
/ ˌpætrɪˈləʊkəl /

adjective

  1. having or relating to a marriage pattern in which the couple lives with the husband's family

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • patrilocality noun
  • patrilocally adverb

Etymology

Origin of patrilocal

First recorded in 1905–10; patri- + local

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 majority of societies today are patrilocal, meaning women move to their husband's communities.

From BBC • Jan. 15, 2025

IBD analysis showed how women influenced Gurgy’s patrilocal community.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 4, 2023

They have also grown in prominence at Korean studies conferences—long the preserve of scholarly experts in topics like Korean Buddhism and ancient patrilocal rites.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 1, 2015

A woman living in a patrilocal setting is surrounded by her husband’s people.

From Scientific American • Mar. 16, 2012

In such a case the marriage is called matrilocal; otherwise it is patrilocal.

From Anthropology by Marett, R. R. (Robert Ranulph)

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.