patriarchal

[ pey-tree-ahr-kuhl ]

adjective

1. of or relating to a patriarch, the male head of a family, tribe, community, church, order, etc.:

   my father's conservative, patriarchal ways.

2. 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

• patri·archal·ly patri·archi·cal·ly adverb
• anti·patri·archal adjective
• anti·patri·archal·ly adverb
• quasi-patri·archal adjective
• unpa·tri·archal adjective
• unpa·tri·archal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of patriarchal¹

First recorded in 1425–75; from Late Latin patriarchālis, equivalent to patriarch(a) patriarch ( def ) + Latin -ālis -al ¹( def )

Example Sentences

He said Mr Ogle "fulfilled a patriarchal role, not only with his family, but with the community that associated with his family".

From BBC

Sociologists attribute this to India's deeply patriarchal society, which continues to enforce strict gender norms.

From BBC

The film provides a stellar examination of blind loyalty to authoritarian governments and the inherent abuse within patriarchal systems of power.

From Salon

She adds that while women have been part of the workforce for decades they're still seen as the "caretakers" and men as the "breadwinners" by a society that is still heavily shaped by patriarchal values.

From BBC

On a macro level, they represented the challenges of being a woman in a traditional patriarchal society.

From Salon

Related Words

• autocratic
• dictatorial
• imperious
• rigid
• strict
• totalitarian
• tyrannical