patriarchal

adjective

pa·​tri·​ar·​chal ˌpā-trē-ˈär-kəl 

: 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

Gara lives in a deeply patriarchal culture, where violence by men can shatter the lives of women, yet as a matriarchal figure, Gara embodies qualities of Sinjajevina itself. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026

The day before International Women’s Day, in 1982, twenty thousand women marched on the square, calling for practical reforms, such as workplace equality and free day care, along with an end to patriarchal oppression. — Maurice Samuels, New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2026

In that sense, New Stanford replicates an ancient form of patriarchal bias that casts men as the norm and women as an atypical other. — Judy Berman, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

The patriarchal, academic, hierarchical setting of hospitals, particularly university hospitals, is overwhelmingly daunting for me. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing patriarchal

• patriarchal cross

Rhymes for patriarchal

• matriarchal
• sparkle