Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
pathophysiology
pathos
pathway
-pathy
patience
patient
patina
patine
patio
patisserie
Pátmos
Patna
Patois
patois
patr-
Patras
patri-
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

patriarchy

pa·tri·ar·chy [ páytree rkee ] (plural pa·tri·ar·chies)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. social system in which men dominate: a social system in which men are regarded as the authority within the family and society, and in which power and possessions are passed on from father to son

2. patriarchal society: a society based on a system of patriarchy

[Mid-16th century. Via medieval Latin< Greek patriarkhia< patriarkhēs (see patriarch)]
Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft