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

That’s not to make excuses, but to put in context, what is also a sputtering, screwball-y film about masculine roles in a waning patriarchal society. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 11 Sep. 2026

When the standoffish and patriarchal Ho-seok refuses to be interviewed, his wife Mi-ok (Jeon Do-yeon) opens up to her, and Ye-ji starts making her movie anyway. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026

Bangladeshi cinema has been equally insistent on subverting patriarchal stereotypes. — Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 5 Sep. 2026

Our ideas of surrogacy are based on a patriarchal notion that the essence of the baby is in the seed. — Torie Bosch, STAT, 5 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing patriarchal

• patriarchal cross

Rhymes for patriarchal

• matriarchal
• sparkle