patriarchy

UK: /ˈpeɪtrɪˌɑːkɪ/ US: /ˈpeɪtriˌɑrki/ ,(pā′trē är′kē)

Inflections of 'patriarchy' (n): npl: patriarchies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•tri•arch•y /ˈpeɪtriˌɑrki/   n., pl. -arch•ies. 

1. Anthropology
   • [uncountable] a form of social organization in which the father is the head of the family, clan, or tribe and descent is established through the male line.
   • , Anthropology [countable] a society based on this social organization.
2. Anthropology
   • [uncountable] the principles or philosophy upon which control by male authority is based.
   • [countable] an institution or organization in which power is held by and transferred through males.

See -patr-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•tri•arch•y  (pā′trē är′kē), n., pl. -ies. 

1. a form of social organization in which the father is the supreme authority in the family, clan, or tribe and descent is reckoned in the male line, with the children belonging to the father's clan or tribe.
2. a society, community, or country based on this social organization.

• Greek patriarchía. See patriarch, -y³
• 1555–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

patriarchy / ˈpeɪtrɪˌɑːkɪ/ noun ( -chies)

1. a form of social organization in which a male is the head of the family and descent, kinship, and title are traced through the male line
2. any society governed by such a system