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Definition of patrilocality
patrilocality
/ˌpætrɪloʊˈkæləti/
pa · tri · lo · cal · i · ty
Adverb:patrilocally
•Plural:patrilocalities
•Adjective:patrilocal
patrilocality Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
patrilocality Game Scores & Validity
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WWF
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• noun
1
A cultural practice or social system in which a married couple establishes their household with or in close proximity to the husband's family or parents.
Example
"The anthropologist noted that the shift from patrilocality to neolocality in the region was primarily driven by young couples moving to urban centers for work."
Synonyms
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In anthropological and sociological contexts, patrilocality is specifically contrasted with matrilocality (residence with the wife's family) and neolocality (establishing a new, independent residence).
• Rhymes for patrilocality
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the early 20th century by anthropologists from the prefix 'patri-' (derived from Latin 'pater', meaning father) and 'locality' (from Latin 'locus', meaning place).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Patrilocality. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/patrilocality