matron

[ mey-truhn ]

noun

1. a married woman, especially one who is mature and staid or dignified and has an established social position.
2. a woman who has charge of the domestic affairs of a hospital, prison, or other institution.
3. a woman serving as a guard, warden, or attendant for women or girls, as in a prison.

matron

/ ˈmeɪtrən /

noun

1. a married woman regarded as staid or dignified, esp a middle-aged woman with children
2. a woman in charge of the domestic or medical arrangements in an institution, such as a boarding school
3. a wardress in a prison
4. the former name for the administrative head of the nursing staff in a hospital Official namenursing officer

Derived Forms

• ˈmatronal, adjective
• ˈmatron-ˌlike, adjective
• ˈmatronˌhood, noun

Other Words From

• ma·tron·al [mey, -tr, uh, -nl, ma, -], adjective
• matron·hood matron·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of matron¹

1350–1400; Middle English matrone < Latin mātrōna a married woman, wife, derivative of māter mother

Word History and Origins

Origin of matron¹

C14: via Old French from Latin mātrōna, from māter mother

Example Sentences

Rachel is by no means impoverished, but she’s not nearly as wealthy as the society matrons Delvey bilks early on.

From Vox

This newest, old hotel, stands like a neighborhood matron underneath New Hampshire Avenue’s lush tree canopy near the quirky shops of 18th, 17th, and U Streets.

From Washington Blade

Freed from those mermaid waves, the hairstyle of choice of countless 50-ish moms, Lovato looks freer and younger, less like a matron in training.

From Time

Ted Lindsay, Reggie Sinclair, and Marty Pavelich of the Red Wings, were ushers, and Ted's wife, Pat, was matron of honor.

From The Daily Beast

At another mortuary, “a very stout matron” has frozen to the metal refrigerator tray and must be chipped from it.

From The Daily Beast

He asked why it was that Saldanha "was placed in a position in a matron office to be receiving calls from outside agencies".

From The Daily Beast

His sister was a “country matron and Conservative party activist,” and so he would have nothing to do with her.

From The Daily Beast

Part matron, part goddess, she is, as she croons, burlesque, and all of its sexy, cheeky implications.

From The Daily Beast

Elderly matrons—and in Turkey every lady is an elderly matron in her fortieth year—are passionately devoted to this enjoyment.

From Project Gutenberg

Gwynne's disapproval vanished as he shook hands with the blooming young matron and met her bright laughing eyes.

From Project Gutenberg

With these words the matron dropped into her chair, and, once more resting her elbow on the table, thought of her solitary fate.

From Project Gutenberg

The matron expressed her entire concurrence in this intelligible simile, and the beadle went on.

From Project Gutenberg

As he spoke, he drew a chair beside the matron, and tenderly inquired what had happened to distress her.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• dowager
• housekeeper
• matriarch