Definition of Matriarchal Authority
(noun) A family or group dynamic where a mother or female exerts the most power and authority.
Example of Matriarchal Authority
- A family in which the mother makes the decision concerning finances and childcare without or with limited input from the father.
Matriarchal Authority Pronunciation
Syllabification: ma·tri·ar·chal au·thor·i·ty
Audio Pronunciation
Phonetic Spelling
- American English – /may-tree-AHR-kuhl uh-thOR-uh-tee/
- British English – /may-tri-AH-kuhl aw-thOr-i-tee/
International Phonetic Alphabet
- American English: /ˌmeɪtɹiˈɑrkəl əˈθɔrətɪ/
- British English: /ˌmeɪtɹɪˈɑːk(ə)l ɔːˈθɒɹɪtɪ/
Usage Notes
- Plural: matriarchal authorities
- A family led by a female is a matriarchy and called a matriarchal family or matriarchal household.
- In contrast to matriarchal authority, patriarchal authority is when power is exerted most by males or an egalitarian authority, when power is shared.
- A type of authority.
- Also termed matrifocality.
Additional Information
- Family and Kinship Resources – Books, Journals, and Helpful Links
- Word origin of “matriarchal” and “authority” – Online Etymology Dictionary: etymonline.com
Related Terms
- domestic group
- egalitarianism
- family
- head of household
- household
- household work strategy
- marriage
- sandwich generation
- second shift
- symmetrical family
Cite the Definition of Matriarchal Authority
ASA – American Sociological Association (5th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “matriarchal authority.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Retrieved April 1, 2023 (https://sociologydictionary.org/matriarchal-authority/).
APA – American Psychological Association (6th edition)
matriarchal authority. (2014). In K. Bell (Ed.), Open education sociology dictionary. Retrieved from https://sociologydictionary.org/matriarchal-authority/
Chicago/Turabian: Author-Date – Chicago Manual of Style (16th edition)
Bell, Kenton, ed. 2014. “matriarchal authority.” In Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Accessed April 1, 2023. https://sociologydictionary.org/matriarchal-authority/.
MLA – Modern Language Association (7th edition)
“matriarchal authority.” Open Education Sociology Dictionary. Ed. Kenton Bell. 2014. Web. 1 Apr. 2023. <https://sociologydictionary.org/matriarchal-authority/>.