matriculate

verb

ma·​tric·​u·​late mə-ˈtri-kyə-ˌlāt 

matriculated; matriculating

transitive verb

: to enroll as a member of a body and especially of a college or university

intransitive verb

: to be enrolled at a college or university

She matriculated at the state university.

matriculant

mə-ˈtri-kyə-lənt 

noun

Did you know?

Anybody who has had basic Latin knows that alma mater, a fancy term for the school you attended, comes from a phrase that means "fostering mother." If mater is mother, then matriculate probably has something to do with a school nurturing you just like good old mom, right? Not exactly. If you go back far enough, matriculate is distantly related to the Latin mater, but its maternal associations were lost long ago—even in terms of Latin history. It is more closely related to Late Latin matricula, which means "public roll or register." Matricula has more to do with being enrolled than being mothered, but it is the diminutive form of the Latin matrix, which in Late Latin was used in the sense of "list" or "register" and earlier referred to female animals kept for the purposes of breeding.

Synonyms

• enroll
• enrol
• inscribe
• list
• register

Examples of matriculate in a Sentence

the college matriculated 1000 students for the fall semester

Recent Examples on the Web

How fast can first base prospect Bryce Eldridge matriculate to the big leagues? —Andrew Baggarly, The Athletic, 17 Aug. 2024

Where did Colin Albert matriculate after graduating from Canton High? —Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 14 July 2024

The Memphis native, who previously completed the technology training, is now matriculating through workforce readiness training. —Gary Estwick, The Tennessean, 10 Apr. 2024

Mangione matriculated to the University of Pennsylvania after high school, majoring in computer science for his bachelor’s degree and computer and information sciences in a simultaneous master’s, according to a university spokesperson. —Jean Marbella, Baltimore Sun, 10 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin matriculatus, past participle of matriculare, from Late Latin matricula public roll, diminutive of matric-, matrix list, from Latin, breeding female

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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Kids Definition

matriculate

verb

ma·​tric·​u·​late mə-ˈtrik-yə-ˌlāt 

matriculated; matriculating

: to enroll especially in a college or university

matriculation

-ˌtrik-yə-ˈlā-shən 

noun