The matron in a nursing home is the woman who is in charge of all the nurses. In the past, the woman in charge of the nurses in a hospital was also called a matron.

In boarding schools, the matron is the woman who looks after the health of the children.

The matron in a hospital or other institution is the woman who is in charge of domestic matters. Matron is also used to refer to a female officer in a prison.

People sometimes refer to middle-aged women as matrons .