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patriarchy

[pey-tree-ahr-kee] / ˈpeɪ triˌɑr ki /
NOUN
society led by men
Synonyms
STRONGEST
patriarchism patriarchship
STRONG
patriarchate


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Traditional patriarchy isn’t some cheat code to make marriage happy.

From Salon • Apr. 8, 2026

The black-and-white drama tells the story of a woman passing herself off as a man in rural 17th-century Germany to escape the constraints of patriarchy.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

If you’re wondering what’s included in their letters to Santa this year, Jinkx is asking for the dismantling of the patriarchy, the rise of feminine rule and unabashed freedom for androgynous people.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

The sanitary pads demonstrate his empathy and readiness to help should a nearby woman forget she's on her period; the literature that he knows all about the structural and institutional barriers of the patriarchy.

From BBC • Oct. 3, 2025

Jane, your films were about sticking it to the man, snapping back at the patriarchy by showing strong female protagonists who didn’t conform to gender roles.

From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon



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