alma mater

noun

al·​ma ma·​ter ˌal-mə-ˈmä-tər 

1

: a school, college, or university which one has attended or from which one has graduated

went to a class reunion at his alma mater

2

: the song or hymn of a school, college, or university

"Hey, Harvard boy, sing your alma mater!" shouted an obnoxious producer.

—Phil Kloer

Examples of alma mater in a Sentence

I visited my old alma mater last week.

Recent Examples on the Web

Coach Fran compiled an amazing 53-6 record at his alma mater from 1985-89, leading the Gorillas to five straight conference titles and five consecutive postseason playoff appearances. — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026

Fifteen years later, the niche local broadcast on K-Beach Radio has ballooned into a cultural movement that extends far behind his alma mater’s campus. — Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2026

Julia eventually gifted the six-bedroom, six-bath home to her alma mater, Smith College, which sold the property to fund a new campus center. — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 2 Oct. 2026

Griffin was not boosting the fortunes of his alma mater as grateful or less imaginative billionaires often do. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fostering mother

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for alma mater

• imprimatur
• underwater
• auteur
• blotter
• cotter
• daughter
• hotter
• otter
• plotter
• rotter
• slaughter
• spotter

Kids Definition

alma mater

noun

al·​ma ma·​ter ˌal-mə-ˈmät-ər 

: a school, college, or university that one has attended

Etymology

Latin, literally "fostering mother," from almus "nourishing" (from alire "to nourish") and mater "mother" — related to alimentary, maternal