matriarchy

[ mey-tree-ahr-kee ]
/ ˈmeɪ triˌɑr ki /

noun, plural ma·tri·ar·chies.

a family, society, community, or state governed by women.
a form of social organization in which the mother is head of the family, and in which descent is reckoned in the female line, the children belonging to the mother's clan; matriarchal system.

Origin of matriarchy

First recorded in 1880–85; matri- + -archy

Words nearby matriarchy

matralia, matrass, matri-, matriarch, matriarchate, matriarchy, matric, matrical, matrices, matricide, matriclinous

Example sentences from the Web for matriarchy

British Dictionary definitions for matriarchy

matriarchy
/ (ˈmeɪtrɪˌɑːkɪ) /

noun plural -chies

a form of social organization in which a female is head of the family or society, and descent and kinship are traced through the female line
any society dominated by women

Cultural definitions for matriarchy

matriarchy
[ (may-tree-ahr-kee) ]

A family or society in which authority is held by females, through whom descent and inheritance are traced. More generally, a matriarchy is a society dominated by women. (See also matrilineal, patriarchy, and patrilineal.)