According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), matriarchy is a "form of social organization in which the mother or oldest female is the head of the family, and descent and relationship are …

Dec 5, 2025 · Matriarchy, hypothetical social system in which the mother or a female elder has absolute authority over the family group; by extension, one or more women (as in a council) …

Nov 30, 2020 · In some respects, Banerjee writes, the Khasi look like that European vision of a matriarchy. They live in clans that trace their origins to a female ancestor. Marriage within …

Nov 21, 2025 · The meaning of matriarchy refers to a social system where women hold primary power and leadership positions, contrasting the common patriarchal structure. In matriarchal …

A matriarchy is a tradition in which community power lies with the women or mothers of a community, rather than with the men in a patriarchal community. The word matriarchy derives …

Nov 24, 2024 · As an alternative social structure to patriarchy, matriarchy has historically been envisioned as a societal system where women, particularly mothers, hold primary power and …

Dec 6, 2016 · The meaning of MATRIARCHY is a family, group, or state governed by a matriarch. How to use matriarchy in a sentence.

Matriarchy is a social system in which women have all the power. The power can be political, social, moral, and judicial. The opposite of matriarchy is patriarchy.

Matriarchy Matriarchy is a term we use with two main meanings: (1) domination by female members of society and (2) women-centeredness in society (such as in descent, place of …

Segments of society were characterized by matriarchy and matrilineal succession -- which survived well into the 19th century -- cross-cousin marriage, and strong regional identity.