patriarchy

noun

pa·tri·ar·chy ˈpā-trē-ˌär-kē

plural patriarchies

: social organization marked by the supremacy of the father in the clan or family, the legal dependence of wives and children, and the reckoning of descent and inheritance in the male line

broadly : control by men of a disproportionately large share of power

: a society or institution organized according to the principles or practices of patriarchy

For 20 years the country was ruled as a patriarchy.

Examples of patriarchy in a Sentence

For 20 years, the country was ruled as a patriarchy. a region in which patriarchy is practiced

Recent Examples on the Web

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Rihanna’s decision to double down on owning and flaunting her sexuality in spite of the patriarchy’s attempts to silence and conceal her became paramount to her brand going forward. —

Kyle Denis, Billboard, 19 Nov. 2024 Why spoil the thrill of revealing the patriarchy with the messy details of an actual woman’s life? —

Sanjena Sathian, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024 Desai agrees that men and women walk side by side, and both suffer the perils of patriarchy. —

Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 26 Oct. 2024 Instead of shading Black male voters in ways that feel patronizing, President Obama could have cultivated more intimate opportunities for calling people in and getting honest about the vestiges of patriarchy. —

Brea Baker, refinery29.com, 18 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for patriarchy