patriciate: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, academic, historical
Quick answer
What does “patriciate” mean?
The patrician class.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The patrician class; the hereditary aristocracy, especially of ancient Rome.
Any exclusive, privileged ruling class in a society, especially one based on hereditary nobility or wealth.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. The word is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of historical/ancient systems, elitism, and hereditary privilege.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both varieties, primarily confined to academic historical or sociological texts.
Grammar
How to Use “patriciate” in a Sentence
the patriciate of + [place/organisation]a patriciate based on + [criteria]Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used. Modern business contexts use 'corporate elite', 'boardroom aristocracy'.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, and political science texts to describe hereditary ruling classes, e.g., 'The patriciate of the Italian city-states.'
Everyday
Virtually never used in everyday conversation.
Technical
Specific term in historiography and classical studies.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “patriciate”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “patriciate”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “patriciate”
- Confusing it with 'patriot'. Misspelling as 'patricate'. Using it to refer to any rich person rather than a hereditary class.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Patrician' is a singular noun or adjective referring to a member of the aristocracy. 'Patriciate' is a collective noun referring to the patrician class as a whole.
It is rarely used for modern contexts. When used metaphorically, it implies a closed, hereditary system resembling ancient Roman nobility, which is uncommon today. Terms like 'elite' or 'establishment' are more neutral.
No. Both words derive from Latin 'pater' (father), but their meanings diverged. 'Patriciate' relates to noble fathers (senators), while 'patriot' relates to one's fatherland.
The stress is on the second syllable: puh-TRISH-ee-uht. The 'c' is soft, like an 'sh' sound.
The patrician class.
Patriciate is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Link to 'patrician' (a noble) + the suffix '-ate' meaning a group or class (like 'electorate'). Think: 'The PATRICIATE ate at the finest banquets.'
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIETY IS A BODY (the patriciate is the 'head' or 'ruling part').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'patriciate' MOST appropriately used?