Meanings
plural matriculas · plural matriculae
- obsoleteA register of students who are enrolled.
The Bachelor in Arts shall be entitled to this Degree after his name shall have been seven years at least on the matricula, and he shall have paid his Library and other fees.
1847, Nova Scotia. House of Assembly, Journals and Proceedings of the House of Assembly of the Province of Nova Scotia2 more examples
It shall be the office of the Registrar, to keep the matricula, or register, in which the names of all persons who shall be admitted members of the University shall be inrolled; to attend the Convocation as secretary, and to keep registers, in which all degrees conferred, and other proceeding of the Convocation, shall be entered.
1803, The Statutes, Rules, and Ordinances of the University of King's College at Windsor, in the Province of Nova-ScotiaDepending on the university, up to three different fees could be payable: fees for registration in the general rectoral matricula, in the faculty matricula, and, if there were university nations, in their matriculae as well — this being payment for the documentary and social act of admission to the university and its sectional parts.
2003, Hilde de Ridder-Symoens, Walter Rüegg, A History of the University in Europe, →ISBN, page 235 - obsoleteA document indicating that a student has passed a course of study.
To graduate, if in arts, the student must, for a bachelor's degree, have obtained two matriculas, that is, he must have attended lectures two years, and must, at the public examination, have been twice approved; and to be master of arts, he must have gained three matriculas.
1792, Joseph Townsend, A Journey Through Spain in the Years 1786 and 1787 - An identification card issued by the Mexican consulate.
After that, I had to give my matricula accompanied by my special number, proving who I was.
2011, Juan Rodriguez, The Congo: Where Men Are Eaten, →ISBN, page 792 more examples
Safeguards are not in place to prevent multiple issuance of matriculas to the same individual; in fact, the INS has already reported finding multiple cards in different names issued to the same person.
2003, BackgrounderI happen to agree completely with Mr. Gallegly that really the only people, or certainly the largest number of people, who could possibly benefit by the use of the matricula in the United States are those people living here illegally. Otherwise, you have identification that this government offers to you when you come in.
2003, The Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005 (State Department Authorization); and the Sense of Congress that the U.N. Should Remove the Economic Sanctions Against Iraq Completely and Without Condition, →ISBN, page 370
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*méh₂tēr
- Proto-Italic*mātēr
- Latinmāter
- Latinmātrīx
- Latinmatricula
- Englishmatricula
Borrowed from Latin matricula (“register”).
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
matricula. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matricula
“matricula.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matricula. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “matricula,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/matricula.
Source: matricula on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.