/ pəˈtɜːnəlɪzəm; NAmE -ˈtɜːrn-/ noun
[ U ] (sometimes disapproving ) the system in which a government or an employer protects the people who are governed or employed by providing them with what they need, but does not give them any responsibility or freedom of choice
► pa·ter·nal·is·tic / pəˌtɜːnəˈlɪstɪk; NAmE -ˌtɜːrn-/ (also pa·ter·nal·ist ) adjective :
a paternalistic employer