Definition of "matronly" in English

adjective

1. In the capacity of a matron; serving as a housekeeper or head nurse.

   • The matronly woman cared for the sick orphan.

2. Exuding the authority, wisdom, power, and intelligence of an experienced woman.

   • c. 1977, Janeane Garofalo, a skit the matronly upper arms girls know about life and love and losing

3. Having the appearance of a mature woman, often of larger physical stature and somewhat unkempt or dowdy.

   • 27 April 2009, LA Times https://web.archive.org/web/20090427074230/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/04/susan-boyle-gets-a-makeover-is-she-going-hollywood-already.html Gone is her matronly gray frizzy hair and those bushy brows, frumpy frock and old lady pearls.

adverb

1. In the manner of a matron.