1. Plural of matriarchate; societies or social systems in which women hold primary authority and power, particularly in family and inheritance structures.
Usage: Formal; primarily used in anthropology and sociology; Less common than 'matriarchies'

Examples

• Anthropologists have studied various matriarchates throughout history to understand alternative social structures.
• Some scholars argue that certain indigenous cultures functioned as matriarchates with women controlling property and succession.
• The research compared matriarchates and patriarchates across different continents.
• Historical matriarchates demonstrate that male dominance is not universal in human societies.
• Feminist scholars often reference matriarchates as examples of gender-balanced or female-centered governance.