androcracy: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “androcracy” mean?
A system of government or social organization in which men hold the primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A system of government or social organization in which men hold the primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
The principle, condition, or prevalence of male dominance in a society, institution, or group; a patriarchal system of rule or control.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Carries strong negative connotations in progressive academic discourse, denoting an oppressive system. In neutral academic contexts, it is descriptive.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, limited to specialist texts. No discernible difference in frequency between UK and US usage.
Grammar
How to Use “androcracy” in a Sentence
The androcracy [verb: prevailed/dominated/collapsed]under an androcracya shift from androcracy to...critique of the androcracyVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “androcracy” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- The androcratic structures of the institution were thoroughly analysed.
- They fought against deeply androcratic norms.
American English
- The report highlighted the androcratic nature of the industry's power dynamics.
- An androcratic society privileges male leadership.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) reports analysing gender imbalance in leadership.
Academic
Primary context. Used in sociology, gender studies, political science, and anthropology to describe systems of power.
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Used as a precise technical term in the fields mentioned above.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “androcracy”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “androcracy”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “androcracy”
- Misspelling as 'androcrasy'.
- Using it to describe an individual sexist man rather than a system.
- Pronouncing the first syllable as 'an-DROH' instead of 'AN-dro'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms and often used interchangeably in academic discourse. 'Androcracy' emphasizes the 'rule by' aspect (from Greek -kratia), while 'patriarchy' (from Latin pater) emphasizes the 'father' as the ruling figure. 'Patriarchy' is far more common.
It would sound highly unusual and academic. In everyday contexts, terms like 'male-dominated' or 'sexist system' are more natural.
The direct opposite is 'gynocracy' or 'matriarchy', meaning rule by women. A broader opposite concept would be 'gender equality' or an 'egalitarian system'.
In modern descriptive social science, it is a neutral term for a type of social system. However, in most contemporary critical discourse (e.g., feminist theory), it carries a negative connotation as an unjust or imbalanced system.
A system of government or social organization in which men hold the primary power and dominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, social privilege, and control of property.
Androcracy is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Androcracy: in British English it is pronounced /ænˈdrɒ.krə.si/, and in American English it is pronounced /ænˈdrɑː.krə.si/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The old androcracy is crumbling.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ANDRO-' (like android, meaning man/male) + '-CRACY' (like democracy, meaning rule by). So, 'rule by men'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SYSTEM IS A STRUCTURE (an entrenched androcracy), POWER IS UP (men at the top of the hierarchy).
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'androcracy' MOST likely to be used?