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

Her meticulous amalgamation of her influences is as homegrown as it is nurtured by her alma mater, the BRIT School, which has churned out fellow 2020s breakthrough stars like Raye, Olivia Dean, Lola Young, Cat Burns and Rachel Chinouriri. —Kyle Denis, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2025

For Pascal, who is making her off-Broadway debut after graduating from Urie’s alma mater Juilliard earlier this year, the play also reflects what is going on in America right now. —Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 17 Nov. 2025

Golden Bulls head coach Maurice Flowers, named CIAA coach of the year, is a conference champion in his fourth season at the helm of his alma mater. —Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 16 Nov. 2025

During the Chiefs’ bye week, Mahomes attended the top-25 matchup between the BYU Cougars and his alma mater, the Texas Tech Red Raiders, who came out on top in Lubbock, Texas. —Cole Sullivan, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, fostering mother

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for alma mater

• annunciator
• imprimatur
• underwater
• backwater
• bathwater
• blackwater
• breakwater
• deepwater
• edgewater
• feedwater
• floodwater
• freshwater

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