patriarchal

adjective

pa·​tri·​ar·​chal ˌpā-trē-ˈär-kəl How to pronounce patriarchal (audio)
: 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 This is a monumental moment for a country whose society, and therefore its politics, has long been patriarchal. Matt Rivers, ABC News, 3 June 2024 In her writing, LaHaye presented the patriarchal nuclear family as the most basic building block of a stable society. Emily Suzanne Johnson / Made By History, TIME, 3 June 2024 In friendship amongst women, sometimes what comes in the middle of it is patriarchal values. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 May 2024 The director nevertheless says his female protagonists shouldn’t be seen merely as pawns of a patriarchal society. Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 15 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for patriarchal 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'patriarchal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near patriarchal

Cite this Entry

“Patriarchal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriarchal. Accessed 12 Jun. 2024.

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