patriarchal

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑɹkl̩/ UK /ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑːkl̩/ See IPA manual

Freq #38158

Meanings

1

adj
relating to a social system in which men hold primary power and authority

The reform challenged patriarchal rules that excluded women from owning property.
2

adj
relating to a patriarch, male family head, or system of descent through the male line

Inheritance followed the patriarchal line from father to eldest son.
3

adj
having the venerable or commanding appearance associated with an elderly male leader

The novelist was photographed with a long beard and a patriarchal air.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · relating to a social system... male-dominatedmale-controlled

2 adj · relating to a patriarch,... patrilinealpaternal

3 adj · having the venerable or... venerable fatherly commanding

Opposites

matriarchalegalitarian

Word family

Derived forms patriarchallypatriarchalism

Related forms patriarchpatriarchypatrilinealpaternalism

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

patriarchal cross
a cross with two horizontal bars

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Late Latin patriarchalis, from patriarcha ('patriarch') + -alis. Patriarch ultimately comes from Greek patriarkhēs, combining patria ('lineage or family,' from patēr, 'father') + arkhein ('to rule'). The social-system sense developed from the authority of a male family head.

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# patriarchal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑɹkl̩/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌpeɪtɹiˈɑːkl̩/
**Frequency rank:** 38158

## Meanings
1. relating to a social system in which men hold primary power and authority
2. relating to a patriarch, male family head, or system of descent through the male line
3. having the venerable or commanding appearance associated with an elderly male leader

## Examples
- The reform challenged patriarchal rules that excluded women from owning property.
- Inheritance followed the patriarchal line from father to eldest son.
- The novelist was photographed with a long beard and a patriarchal air.

## Synonyms
- male-dominated
- patrilineal
- paternal
- venerable

## Antonyms
- matriarchal
- egalitarian

## Derived Forms
- patriarchally
- patriarchalism

## Related Forms
- patriarch
- patriarchy
- patrilineal
- paternalism

## Etymology
From Late Latin patriarchalis, from patriarcha ('patriarch') + -alis. Patriarch ultimately comes from Greek patriarkhēs, combining patria ('lineage or family,' from patēr, 'father') + arkhein ('to rule'). The social-system sense developed from the authority of a male family head.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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