a family or people under female domination or government
matriarchate in American English
(ˈmeɪtriˌɑrkɪt; ˈmeɪtriˌɑrˌkeɪt)
noun
1.
a family, tribe, etc. ruled by a matriarch
2.
a matriarchal system, as in certain mythical tribes
matriarchate in American English
(ˈmeitriˌɑːrkɪt, -keit)
noun
1.
a matriarchal system or community
2.
a social order formerly believed to have preceded patriarchal tribal society in the early period of human communal life, embodying rule by the mothers, or by all adult women
Word origin
[1880–85; matriarch + -ate3]This word is first recorded in the period 1880–85. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: highball, impressionism, interface, quotation mark, rain check-ate is a suffix occurring orig. in nouns borrowed from Latin, and in English coinagesfrom Latin bases, that denote offices or functions (consulate; triumvirate; pontificate), as well as institutions or collective bodies (electorate; senate); sometimes extended to denote a person who exercises such a function (magistrate; potentate), an associated place (consulate), or a period of office or rule (protectorate). Joined to stems of any origin, -ate signifies the office, term of office, or territory of a ruler or official (caliphate; khanate; shogunate)