matron

American  

[mey-truhn] / ˈmeɪ trən /

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.

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matron British  

/ 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. Official name: nursing officer.  the former name for the administrative head of the nursing staff in a hospital

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Other Word Forms

• matron-like adjective
• matronal adjective
• matronhood noun
• matronship noun

Etymology

Origin of matron

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

Example Sentences

Mueenuddin, whose gift for satire shines whether he’s describing society matrons or gangsters, never loses sight of his theme: How do any of us ever manage to justify our treatment of the underserved?

From Los Angeles Times

Behind her back, the other matrons make snarky remarks about her while sipping her tea; we learn all this because we share Millie’s point of view and the moms speak freely in front of her.

From The Wall Street Journal

Faith plays a goth schoolgirl in the film, Imrie plays a school matron, while Sir Stephen plays himself, as the school quiz master.

From BBC

She asked to speak to the matron and was "ushered into the kitchen where a teenage girl was eating rice".

From BBC

Seema cosplaying a garden society matron certainly isn’t the worst vision this show has served.

From Salon

Related Words

• dowager
• housekeeper
• matriarch