matron

[ mey-truh n ]
/ ˈmeɪ trən /

noun

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

Origin of matron

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

OTHER WORDS FROM matron

ma·tron·al [mey-truh-nl, ma-] /ˈmeɪ trə nl, ˈmæ-/, adjective ma·tron·hood, ma·tron·ship, noun

Example sentences from the Web for matron

British Dictionary definitions for matron

matron
/ (ˈmeɪtrən) /

noun

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

Derived forms of matron

matronal, adjective matronhood or matronship, noun matron-like, adjective

Word Origin for matron

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