gynarchy

Noun

gynarchy (countable and uncountable, plural gynarchies)

1. (countable) A government ruled by a woman or women.
   • But I have always ſome hopes of a change under a Gunarchy ; where whim and humour commonly prevail, reaſon very ſeldom, and then only by a lucky miſtake.1759 February 2, Philip Stanhope, 4th Earl of Chesterfield, Letters Written by the Late Right Honourable Philip Dormer Stanhope, Earl of Chesterfield, to His Son, Philip Stanhope, Esq.; Late Envoy...
   • Though no ways anti-matrimonial, this faithful servitor was not particularly desirous of serving under a gynarchy, while on the other hand he was not destitute of feelings of gratitude for services rendered him by Miss Bud, which he endeavored to maintain consistently with fidelity to his master.1839, MGM, “The Bachelor Beset”, in Southern Literary Messenger, volume V, Richmond: Thos. W. White, page 753
2. (uncountable) Government by a woman or women.
   • They did not band themselves together for or against anarchy or gynarchy, monarchy or hierarchy, or any form of civil or religious government, but simply against slavery.1836, Seventh Annual Report of the Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society, Boston: Boston Female Anti-Slavery Society, published 1840, page 26