[ noun ] a form of social organization in which a male is the family head and title is traced through the male line <noun.group>
Patriarchy \Pa"tri*arch`y\, n. [Gr. patriarchi`a.] 1. The jurisdiction of a patriarch; patriarchship. --Brerewood.
2. Government by a patriarch; patriarchism.
The Moscow patriarchy accuses the Catholics of representing Western interests, trying to stamp out orthodoxy in Ukraine, and by extension, oppress Russians living there.
Josh makes clumsy passes at Kate when she's seething with anger and fear, but we know from the outset that he's not a member of the evil patriarchy.