matronly

adjective

ma·​tron·​ly ˈmā-trən-lē How to pronounce matronly (audio)
: having the character of or suitable to a matron

Examples of matronly in a Sentence

She feared she was becoming a matronly old woman. She wore a matronly blue dress.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
After years of matronly tankinis, there are now some great plus-size swim pieces available on the market, including this scarlet snake-print one-piece from Nomads Swimwear. Sarah Chiwaya, Refinery29, 6 Apr. 2025 Mary’s childhood has all of the workhouse tragedy of a Dickens novel, plus insufficient scenes of Susan Lynch as a stern, matronly figure from her youth. Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 After evading suspicion for years, in part because of her disarming, matronly demeanor, Puente was ultimately arrested. Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 5 Feb. 2025 Pinkham’s matronly smile, printed on labels and advertisements, became as well known as Mona Lisa’s. Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 30 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for matronly

Word History

First Known Use

1630, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of matronly was in 1630

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Matronly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matronly. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

matronly

adjective
ma·​tron·​ly ˈmā-trən-lē How to pronounce matronly (audio)
: of, resembling, or suitable for a matron

More from Merriam-Webster on matronly

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!