1
a
: a married woman usually marked by dignified maturity or social distinction (see distinction sense 4a)
b
: a woman who supervises women or children (as in a school or police station)
c
: the chief officer in a women's organization
2
: a female animal kept for breeding
Examples of matron in a Sentence
society matrons who organize benefits for charity
the matron of a school for girls
Recent Examples on the Web
But this season, showrunner Mike White pinpoints the willful decadence of the Western world, primarily through Yankees: the husband, wife, and 2.5 children of the Ratliff family, three freewheeling feminist matrons, plus a shady white bachelor and a single black mother.
—
Armond White, National Review, 9 Apr. 2025
Unexpectedly, a character who seemed to be a stock figure — the dowdy matron, clucking over the girls in her charge — emerges as someone much richer and better, raising the show along with her.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Prior to Wells’ appointment in 1910, national women’s groups had convinced officials in multiple cities, including Jersey City, Chicago and Boston, to employ female police matrons at jails, psychiatric hospitals and other public law enforcement institutions.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Nonetheless, the position of policewoman was such a resounding public relations success that Los Angeles soon expanded its roster to three female police officers and three police matrons.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matron
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Armond White, National Review, 9 Apr. 2025
Unexpectedly, a character who seemed to be a stock figure — the dowdy matron, clucking over the girls in her charge — emerges as someone much richer and better, raising the show along with her.
—Jesse Green, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2025
Prior to Wells’ appointment in 1910, national women’s groups had convinced officials in multiple cities, including Jersey City, Chicago and Boston, to employ female police matrons at jails, psychiatric hospitals and other public law enforcement institutions.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
Nonetheless, the position of policewoman was such a resounding public relations success that Los Angeles soon expanded its roster to three female police officers and three police matrons.
—Peter Zablocki, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for matron
Cite this Entry
“Matron.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/matron. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
matron
noun
ma·tron
ˈmā-trən 
1
: a usually mature and dignified married woman
2
: a woman in charge of the household affairs of an institution
3
: a woman who supervises women prisoners in a police station or jail
Medical Definition
matron
noun
ma·tron
ˈmā-trən
British
: a woman superintendent of a medical institution (as a hospital)
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