The question of toxic masculinity and that of the patriarchy have been presented and analyzed ad nauseam. The words are in all mouths; so much so that it becomes unclear as to what meaning they actually bear in common usage. It therefore becomes all the more necessary to recognize what meaning they do bear and how they denote realities that must be addressed. This article aims to suggest a way in which we can understand these terms and the phenomena they refer to that allows both for efficient action and conceptual exploration.