Meanings
plural matriarchates
- A matriarchal system or community.First known use 19th c.
Like Byron's seraglio, the boudoir is a matriarchate guarded by eunuchs […].
1990, Camille Paglia, Sexual Personae1 more example
The fact that in most lands the moon was originally a female deity has led many historians to dispute the superiority of the moon over the sun in ancient mythology. In putting forth this argument they overlook one important and significant factor: the existence of a matriarchate preceding the domination of woman by man. That such a condition was perfectly natural will be realized when it is remembered there was no recognition of the part played by the male in fecundation.
1941, George Ryley Scott, Phallic Worship: A History of Sex and Sex Rites in Relation to the Religions of All Races from Antiquity to the Present Day, London: T. Werner Laurie, page 15
Synonyms & antonyms
nouna form of social organization in which a female is the family head and title is traced through the female line
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From matriarch + -ate (forms nouns denoting rank or office, a system ruled by people of such office), modeled after patriarchate.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Catalan matriarcat
- matriarcatmatriarchate
Danish matriarkat
- matriarkatmatriarchate
Dutch matriarchaat
- matriarchaatmatriarchate
Finnish matriarkaatti, äidinvalta
- matriarkaattimatriarchate
- äidinvaltamatriarchate
French matriarcat
- matriarcatmatriarchate
German Matriarchat
- Matriarchatmatriarchate
Hindi मातृसत्ता
- मातृसत्ता (mātŕsattā)matriarchate
Icelandic kvennaveldi, mæðraveldi
- kvennaveldimatriarchate
- mæðraveldimatriarchate
Norwegian Bokmål matriarkat
- matriarkatmatriarchate
Portuguese matriarcado
- matriarcadomatriarchate
Romanian matriarhat
- matriarhatmatriarchate
Spanish matriarcado
- matriarcadomatriarchate
Swedish matriarkat
- matriarkatmatriarchate
Cite this entry
matriarchate. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matriarchate
“matriarchate.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matriarchate. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “matriarchate,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matriarchate.
Source: matriarchate on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.