1. the office, jurisdiction, or tenure of a patriarch in certain Christian churches
Usage: ecclesiastical
2. the territory or province under a patriarch’s authority
Usage: ecclesiastical
3. a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in leadership roles

Examples

• The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople is considered first among equals in Eastern Orthodoxy.
• He was appointed to lead the patriarchate after years of theological study.
• The ancient patriarchate extended across several modern countries.
• Many scholars study the effects of patriarchate on historical societies.
• The patriarchate’s influence shaped religious practices for centuries.
• Traditional patriarchate systems often limited women’s roles in society.