matriarchal

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Definitions from WordNet

Adjective matriarchal has 1 sense

matriarchal - characteristic of a matriarchy
Antonyms: patriarchal, patriarchic, patricentric

Definitions from the Web

Matriarchal

Description

Matriarchal refers to a social system or family structure where women hold the central power or have a dominant role in decision-making and leadership.

Senses

1. Societal sense

In the societal sense, matriarchal refers to a society or culture that is centered around women, where women have primary authority and play a prominent role in shaping the social, political, and economic aspects.

Example sentence: The Mosuo community in China is known for its matriarchal structure, where women have significant influence in decision-making and inheritance.

2. Family sense

In terms of family structure, matriarchal describes a system where women hold the highest authority and often play a central role in decision-making within their family unit.

Example sentence: The family gatherings always revolve around the matriarchal figure, as she guides and shapes the traditions and values of the entire family.

Usages

Popular Usage

In popular usage, matriarchal can refer to any situation where women are in positions of power or have a strong influence.

Example sentence: The company's matriarchal board of directors has brought about significant positive changes in employee welfare.

Local Usage

Matriarchal might have a local usage when specifically referring to societies or communities within a geographic region where matriarchy is prevalent.

Example sentence: The indigenous tribe has managed to preserve their matriarchal ways despite the influence of modernization.