matriculate

American  

[muh-trik-yuh-leyt, muh-trik-yuh-lit] / məˈtrɪk yəˌleɪt, məˈtrɪk yə lɪt /

verb (used with object)

matriculated, matriculating

1. to enroll in a college or university as a candidate for a degree.

2. to register (a coat of arms), used especially in Scottish heraldry.

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verb (used without object)

matriculated, matriculating

1. to be matriculated.

noun

1. a person who has been matriculated.

matriculate British  

verb

1. to enrol or be enrolled in an institution, esp a college or university

2. (intr) to attain the academic standard required for a course at such an institution

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noun

1. Also called: matriculant.  a person who has matriculated

Other Word Forms

• matriculation noun
• matriculator noun
• rematriculate verb
• unmatriculated adjective

Etymology

Origin of matriculate

1480–90 for earlier sense; < Medieval Latin mātrīculātus (person) listed (for some specific duty), equivalent to mātrīcul ( a ) list ( matriculant ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

More than half of high-school grads matriculate to college, even though only 35% of 12th graders score proficient in reading and 22% in math on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026

While it will take a little time for the students to matriculate through college and into the workforce, this plan will be a significant contributor to solving the controller shortage problem.

From Salon • Oct. 18, 2025

I need it to matriculate into the master's programme I was accepted into at Columbia.

From BBC • May 4, 2024

The new study showed that’s part of it: One-third of the difference in attendance rates was because middle-class students were somewhat less likely to apply or matriculate.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 27, 2023

He points out the “quad” and the “field house” and refers to the “Ivies” and the “public Ivies,” where all these newbies will ultimately matriculate.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove