Gynarchy

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈɡaɪˌnɑːki/

Definitions

1. A form of government in which leadership and authority are predominantly exercised by women
2. A political arrangement characterized by female supremacy in governance and decision-making roles
3. A system of governance where women hold the primary power and political authority

Etymology: "Gynarchy" is built from two Greek elements: "gyn-", from "gynē", meaning "woman", and "-archy", from "archē", meaning "rule" or "beginning", the same element found in "monarchy" and "oligarchy". Put together, the word means rule by women, a plain compound with no hidden twist. The pattern is a familiar one. English writers coined many "-archy" words on classical models to name forms of government, so "gynarchy" simply pairs the Greek for woman with the Greek for rule. Because the formation is so transparent, the word works as a neat counterpart to "patriarchy", which uses "patēr", father, in the same slot.