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patriarchy

Syllabification: (pa·tri·arch·y)
Pronunciation: /ˈpātrēˌärkē/

Translate patriarchy | into Italian
Definition of patriarchy

noun (plural patriarchies)

  • a system of society or government in which the father or eldest male is head of the family and descent is traced through the male line.
  • a system of society or government in which men hold the power and women are largely excluded from it.
  • a society or community organized on patriarchal lines.

Origin:

mid 17th century: via medieval Latin from Greek patriarkhia, from patriarkhēs 'ruling father' (see patriarch)

patriarchy in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of patriarchy in the British & World English dictionary