Patriarchy
noun /ˈpeɪ.tri.ɑː.ki/ — A social system in which men hold primary power and authority.
Definition
A system of society or government in which men hold primary power and women are largely excluded from it. Also: a family, group, or government controlled by men. Patriarchy describes not individual attitudes but structural systems of power.
Beyond the definition
Patriarchy is often invisible to those it benefits. The fish doesn't notice the water. The structures that advantage one group tend to feel like simply the way things are.
Origin & history
Greek: 'patriarkhēs' (ruling father). From 'patria' (family, fatherland) + 'arkhein' (to rule). The term entered academic use through anthropology in the 19th century.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
The study traced how patriarchy operates not through individual prejudice but through institutional design.
She spent years examining how the family had functioned as a miniature patriarchy.
Naming patriarchy as a system, rather than individual bad actors, changed the entire conversation.
How to use it
This entry uses a noun. Follow the examples for articles and singular or plural forms; not every noun takes “a” or “an.”
Choose “Patriarchy” when the meaning fits your context: A system of society or government in which men hold primary power and women are largely excluded from it. Also: a family, group, or government controlled by men. Patriarchy describes not individual attitudes but structural systems of power.
Synonyms
male dominance, male supremacy, androcentrism
Antonyms
matriarchy, egalitarianism, equality
Related words
Patriarchy vs misogyny
Patriarchy describes a social system of power and structure. Misogyny is the prejudice or hatred directed toward women, which can exist within or outside of a patriarchal structure.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Dominant Adult With Excluded Colleague
Two adults stand in a room, one standing tall and pointing, the other looking down, excluded from the process.
This depicts a structural power imbalance where one person holds primary authority and the other is excluded, illustrating the systemic nature of patriarchy rather than individual attitude.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Patriarchy" mean?
Patriarchy is noun meaning: A social system in which men hold primary power and authority.. A system of society or government in which men hold primary power and women are largely excluded from it. Also: a family, group, or government controlled by men. Patriarchy describes not individual attitudes but structural systems of power.
Where does the word "Patriarchy" come from?
Greek: 'patriarkhēs' (ruling father). From 'patria' (family, fatherland) + 'arkhein' (to rule). The term entered academic use through anthropology in the 19th century.