patriarchal

adjective

pa·​tri·​ar·​chal ˌpā-trē-ˈär-kəl How to pronounce patriarchal (audio)
Synonyms of patriarchalnext
: of, relating to, or being a patriarch or patriarchy
a patriarchal culture
a patriarchal religion

Examples of patriarchal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The film follows an orphaned girl at the bottom of a patriarchal society who works her way toward power while wrestling with family trauma and questions of identity. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 June 2026 Rather than viewing the patriarchal regime of Gilead through the eyes of an adult survivor trying to escape it, the spin-off puts us alongside a teenager who knows no other reality. Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 18 June 2026 Even theologically conservative women have left such churches because of the patriarchal mindset that defines women in relation to male authority. Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 His telling of the story is the result of his refusal, as a man, of his patriarchal inheritance. Nina Mesfin, New Yorker, 7 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for patriarchal

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of patriarchal was in the 15th century

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Cite this Entry

“Patriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriarchal. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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