matriculate

[muh-trik-yuh-leyt, muh-trik-yuh-lit]

verb (used with object)

matriculated, matriculating 

1. to enroll in a college or university as a candidate for a degree.

2. to register (a coat of arms), used especially in Scottish heraldry.

verb (used without object)

matriculated, matriculating 

1. to be matriculated.

noun

1. a person who has been matriculated.

matriculate

verb

1. to enrol or be enrolled in an institution, esp a college or university

2. (intr) to attain the academic standard required for a course at such an institution

noun

1. Also called: matriculant. a person who has matriculated

Other Word Forms

• matriculator noun
• matriculation noun
• rematriculate verb
• unmatriculated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of matriculate¹

1480–90 for earlier sense; < Medieval Latin mātrīculātus (person) listed (for some specific duty), equivalent to mātrīcul ( a ) list ( matriculant ) + -ātus -ate ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of matriculate¹

C16: from Medieval Latin mātrīculāre to register, from mātrīcula, diminutive of matrix list, _matrix

Example Sentences

Kansas City’s Hank Stram became the first coach to wear a microphone for NFL Films, urging his players to “matriculate the ball down the field.”

From Los Angeles Times

I need it to matriculate into the master's programme I was accepted into at Columbia.

From BBC

“I hope that women keep getting out there running, hiking, matriculating, climbing, working, and living their lives as they deserve,” Rennison said in an email.

From Seattle Times

It was only when I had matriculated and moved to New York City as a journalism major that I began to become haunted by the sound of my own voice.

From Los Angeles Times

The new study showed that’s part of it: One-third of the difference in attendance rates was because middle-class students were somewhat less likely to apply or matriculate.

From Seattle Times