Definition: The word patriarchy is formed from a form of the Greek words for father and rule, so a patriarchy refers to rule of a family or organization by the father or a suitable adult male. An alternative to patriarchy is a matriarchy, where the mothers rule. While patriarchy literally refers to a father, in practice it refers to a society in which the men dominate.
A term closely related to patriarchy is patrilineal, an adjective showing that inheritance goes through the male line. Those who have studied Latin may remember that the word patria means country or fatherland.
See Patriarch.
