patrilocal

American

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

adjective

Anthropology.

virilocal.

patrilocal British

/ ˌpætrɪˈləʊkəl /

adjective

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

Derived Forms

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

But the DNA shows their patrilocal traditions persisted.

From Science Magazine • Apr. 24, 2024

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

I therefore propose to term the three types matrilocal, removal, and patrilocal marriages.

From Kinship Organisations and Group Marriage in Australia by Thomas, Northcote Whitridge

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023