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

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

Minnesota matriculated the ball up the field, converted a 40-yard field goal and sealed a 30-27 win over the Chicago Bears. —Alec Lewis, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024

The two right-handed changeup artists were drafted a year apart but matriculated simultaneously through the Los Angeles Dodgers minor-league system, each achieving premium prospect status. —Fabian Ardaya, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024

Harris matriculated at Howard in 1982, earning her bachelor’s degree in economics and political science. —Simmone Shah, TIME, 30 Oct. 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