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Glite Dictionary
matriarchate

matriarchate

9.4
A social system where women lead the family or group and property passes through the mother's line
  • noun
  • /ˈmeɪtriɑːrkeɪt/
translation icon : matriarcado
  • The Spartans are sometimes cited as having elements of a matriarchate in their society.

Examples

  • Some indigenous cultures were structured as a matriarchate, with women inheriting property and leadership roles.

  • Debates continue among historians about whether any full matriarchate has existed in world history.

  • A matriarchate is fascinating.

  • Is this a matriarchate?

  • In a traditional matriarchate, the family's wealth is passed down through the daughters.

  • The matriarchate in their community is evident, as the oldest woman makes all the important decisions.

  • Her role as the head of the household highlighted the principles of a matriarchate, where lineage is traced through women.

Synonyms

matriarchy
vsmatriarchate
2 7.3

A society where women lead families and inheritance follows the mother's line

uses woman in general rather than naming a mother specifically

Antonyms

patriarchate
8.5

A society where men lead families and family line goes through the father

How Female-Led

matriarchate
9.4
patriarchy
31 7.0

Surface Forms

matriarchate singular
matriarchates plural

Morphology

matriarchate = matriarch (semi-transparent) = matri + arch + ate

While the components 'matriarch' and the suffix '-ate' are clear, the specific meaning of a social system may not be immediately obvious to all learners.

Etymology

The word matriarchate comes from the parts matri- meaning 'mother' and -archate meaning 'rule', the same 'rule' you see in monarch. So a matriarchate is a society where a woman is the head and family lines and property follow the mother's side.